Thoracentesis cost in Columbus, NC
In Columbus, NC, 1 hospital lists a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $2,035.11 to $2,035.11, with a median of $2,035.11. Across North Carolina, the median is $1,571.00 at 37 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 32555, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Apr 1, 2026.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AdventHealth Polk Columbus, NC · (828) 894-3311 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,035.11 | $2,035.11 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $2,035.11, median $2,035.11, highest $2,035.11.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $2,035.11. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
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.