Thoracentesis cost in Traverse City, MI — inpatient
In Traverse City, MI, 3 hospitals list a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance as an inpatient: from $233.75 to $1,609.90, with a median of $1,586.10. The lowest listed price is at Kalkaska Memorial Health Center — $1,352.35 less than the median here. Across Michigan, the median is $1,084.15 at 54 hospitals.
Cash prices at 3 facilities across 3 cities for code 32555, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 17, 2026 and Apr 17, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Traverse City, MI.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalkaska Memorial Health Center lowest Kalkaska, MI · (231) 258-7500 Thoracentesis needle or catheter aspiration of the pleural space with imaging guidance | $233.75 | $275.00 | $68.37–$941.90 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Kalkaska Memorial Health Center Kalkaska, MI · (231) 258-7500 ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING BCE | $518.50 | $610.00 | $451.40–$852.12 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Kalkaska Memorial Health Center Kalkaska, MI · (231) 258-7500 THORACENTESIS W/ IMAGING BCE | $518.50 | $610.00 | $451.40–$852.12 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Kalkaska Memorial Health Center Kalkaska, MI · (231) 258-7500 Thoracentesis needle or catheter aspiration of the pleural space with imaging guidance | $561.00 | $660.00 | $488.40–$852.12 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Kalkaska Memorial Health Center Kalkaska, MI · (231) 258-7500 US Exams | $1,198.50 | $1,410.00 | $852.12–$1,339.50 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Kalkaska Memorial Health Center Kalkaska, MI · (231) 258-7500 US GUIDED THORACENTESIS | $1,198.50 | $1,410.00 | $852.12–$1,339.50 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Frankfort, MI · (231) 352-2200 THORACENTESIS W/ IMAGING BCE | $1,586.10 | $1,866.00 | $1,354.72–$1,772.70 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Frankfort, MI · (231) 352-2200 Thoracentesis needle or catheter aspiration of the pleural space with imaging guidance | $1,586.10 | $1,866.00 | $1,354.72–$1,772.70 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Frankfort, MI · (231) 352-2200 ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING BCE | $1,586.10 | $1,866.00 | $1,354.72–$1,772.70 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Munson Medical Center Traverse City, MI · (231) 935-5000 CT Exams | $1,609.90 | $1,894.00 | $852.12–$1,856.12 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Munson Medical Center Traverse City, MI · (231) 935-5000 CT GUIDANCE THORACENTESIS | $1,609.90 | $1,894.00 | $852.12–$1,856.12 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Munson Medical Center Traverse City, MI · (231) 935-5000 SP Exams | $1,609.90 | $1,894.00 | $852.12–$1,856.12 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Munson Medical Center Traverse City, MI · (231) 935-5000 THORACENTESIS W/ FLUORO GUIDANCE | $1,609.90 | $1,894.00 | $852.12–$1,856.12 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Munson Medical Center Traverse City, MI · (231) 935-5000 THORACENTESIS W/ US GUIDANCE | $1,609.90 | $1,894.00 | $852.12–$1,856.12 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Munson Medical Center Traverse City, MI · (231) 935-5000 US Exams | $1,609.90 | $1,894.00 | $852.12–$1,856.12 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Munson Medical Center Traverse City, MI · (231) 935-5000 US GUIDED THORACENTESIS | $1,609.90 | $1,894.00 | $852.12–$1,856.12 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Munson Medical Center Traverse City, MI · (231) 935-5000 Thoracentesis needle or catheter aspiration of the pleural space with imaging guidance | $1,609.90 | $1,894.00 | $852.12–$1,856.12 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Munson Medical Center Traverse City, MI · (231) 935-5000 ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING BCE | $1,609.90 | $1,894.00 | $852.12–$1,856.12 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Munson Medical Center Traverse City, MI · (231) 935-5000 THORACENTESIS W/ IMAGING BCE | $1,609.90 | $1,894.00 | $852.12–$1,856.12 | 15% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $233.75, median $1,586.10, highest $1,609.90 — a 6.9× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 3 facilities here, median $1,586.10 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 3 of 3 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What it is
Thoracentesis removes fluid from around the lungs with a needle, using ultrasound to guide it.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the procedure and guidance. Lab tests on the fluid are billed separately.