Thoracentesis cost in Iowa
In Iowa, 70 hospitals publish a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $215.40 to $3,687.00, with a median of $983.20. The lowest price is at Knoxville Hospital & Clinics (Knoxville). The highest price is 17.1× the lowest.
- The median here, $983.20, is 20% below the US median of $1,224.53.
- That is 1.5× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($640.89).
- Iowa ranks 13th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 8 of 70 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 32555. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 7, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$215.40Knoxville Hospital & Clinics
Median$983.20half of hospitals charge less
Highest$3,687.00in Iowa
Lowest saves$767.80vs the median
Hospitals in Iowa, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville Hospital & Clinics lowest Knoxville · Pella, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $215.40 | $359.00 | Jan 24, 2026 source file |
| Waverly Health Center Waverly · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $258.96 | $498.00 | Oct 19, 2026 source file |
| Sioux Center Health one side Sioux Center · Sioux Center, IA | $287.12 | $296.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa Corning · Corning, IA HC ASP PLEURA W/GUIDANCE | $320.40 | $712.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital of Missouri Valley, Iowa Missouri Valley · Omaha, NE-IA HC THORACENTESIS W IMAGE GUIDE | $356.00 | $712.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Shenandoah Medical Center Shenandoah · Shenandoah, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $358.15 | $551.00 | Sep 21, 2026 source file |
| Orange City Municipal Hospital Orange City · Orange City, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $425.60 | $532.00 | Sep 23, 2026 source file |
| Washington County Hospital Washington · Iowa City, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $440.25 | $587.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Belmond Community Hospital Belmond · Belmond, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $451.20 | $752.00 | Apr 22, 2026 source file |
| Iowa Specialty Hospital-Clarion Clarion · Clarion, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $469.20 | $782.00 | Jun 11, 2026 source file |
| Greene County Medical Center Jefferson · Jefferson, IA HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $493.92 | $882.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Floyd County Memorial Hospital Commission Charles City · Charles City, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $553.67 | $1,384.18 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA SP Exam | $558.90 | $1,863.00 | Feb 15, 2026 source file |
| Veterans Memorial Hospital City of Waukon Ia Waukon · Waukon, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $571.71 | $1,003.00 | Oct 8, 2026 source file |
| Shelby County Chris A Myrtue Memorial Hospital Harlan · Harlan, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $599.14 | $1,033.00 | Apr 21, 2026 source file |
| Audubon County Memorial Hospital Audubon · Audubon, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $600.00 | $600.00 | Sep 14, 2026 source file |
| Hansen Family Hospital Iowa Falls · Iowa Falls, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $608.00 | $608.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HC ASP PLEURA W/GUIDANCE | $614.90 | $1,430.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Cass County Memorial Hospital Atlantic · Atlantic, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $623.00 | $890.00 | Jun 1, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center one side Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Thoracentesis w Tube Insertion R | $639.60 | $1,066.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Jefferson County Hospital Fairfield · Fairfield, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $660.00 | $1,100.00 | Aug 20, 2026 source file |
| Clarinda Regional Health Center Clarinda · Clarinda, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $708.75 | $945.00 | Oct 23, 2026 source file |
| Kossuth Regional Health Center Algona · Algona, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $723.20 | $904.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Madison County Memorial Hospital Winterset · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $724.00 | $905.00 | Oct 21, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center one side Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Thoracentesis w Tube Insertion R | $739.20 | $1,232.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center one side Dewitt · Clinton, IA GHS OP THORACENTESIS - LT | $739.20 | $1,232.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Loring Hospital Sac City · Sac City, IA HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $744.00 | $930.00 | Aug 25, 2026 source file |
| Rawford County Memorial Hospital Denison · Denison, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $760.00 | $950.00 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| Trinity - Bettendorf Bettendorf · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $905.60 | $1,131.99 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Unity Healthcare Muscatine · Muscatine, IA HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $905.60 | $1,131.99 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Cherokee Regional Medical Center Cherokee · Cherokee, IA HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $913.50 | $1,015.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge · Fort Dodge, IA HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $923.31 | $1,154.13 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| The Finley Hospital Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $945.24 | $1,181.55 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Stewart Memorial Community Hospital Lake City · Lake City, IA ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $949.00 | $1,187.00 | Oct 8, 2024 source file |
| Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Storm Lake · Storm Lake, IA HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $975.20 | $1,219.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| WinnMed Decorah · Decorah, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $991.20 | $1,416.00 | Oct 13, 2026 source file |
| Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinic West Union · West Union, IA HCHG 32555 THORACENTESIS,ASP PLEURAL SPACE;W/IMAG GUID | $1,024.65 | $1,725.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Decatur County Hospital Leon · Leon, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $1,063.20 | $1,329.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Allen Hospital Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,076.90 | $1,346.12 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health Marshalltown Marshalltown · Marshalltown, IA HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,076.90 | $1,346.12 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Virginia Gay Hospital Vinton · Cedar Rapids, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $1,131.20 | $1,414.00 | Aug 13, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - New Hampton one side New Hampton · New Hampton, IA HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Lt | $1,165.45 | $1,793.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Newton Medical Center one side Newton · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Lt | $1,165.45 | $1,793.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $1,207.00 | $1,207.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Clinton Medical Center one side Clinton · Clinton, IA HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Lt | $1,265.55 | $1,947.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Guttenberg Municipal Hospital Guttenberg · Guttenberg, IA HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,388.00 | $1,735.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Wayne County Hospital Corydon · Corydon, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $1,389.00 | $1,389.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center Sioux City · Sioux City, IA-NE-SD HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,445.28 | $1,806.59 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Jones Regional Medical Center Anamosa · Cedar Rapids, IA HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,511.68 | $1,889.59 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell · Grinnell, IA HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,520.44 | $1,900.54 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Spencer Municipal Hospital one side Spencer · Spencer, IA Aspirate Pleura W Imaging RT | $1,538.25 | $2,051.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Regional Medical Center Manchester · Manchester, IA ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,568.80 | $1,961.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center one side Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Rt | $1,625.65 | $2,501.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Manning Regional Healthcare Center Manning · Carroll, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $1,685.05 | $2,515.00 | Oct 16, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Centerville Medical Center one side Centerville · Centerville, IA HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Rt | $1,793.00 | $1,793.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lakes Regional Hospital one side Spirit Lake · Spirit Lake, IA | $1,829.70 | $1,926.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon · Sheldon, IA SURG 32555 THORACENTESIS W IMAGING | $1,886.40 | $2,358.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Boone County Hospital one side Boone · Ames, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $1,891.06 | $2,363.82 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Methodist Hospital Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids, IA HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,990.73 | $2,488.41 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center one side Mason City · Mason City, IA HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Rt | $2,012.40 | $3,096.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Palo Alto County Hospital Emmetsburg · Emmetsburg, IA Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural | $2,127.00 | $2,836.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Jackson County Regional Health Center Maquoketa · Maquoketa, IA GHS THORACENTESIS CHEST TUBE W GUIDANCE BIL | $2,137.00 | $2,137.00 | Aug 11, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center one side Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Rt | $2,174.90 | $3,346.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $2,305.97 | $2,882.46 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING GUIDANCE | $2,375.10 | $3,393.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING GUIDANCE | $2,375.10 | $3,393.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center one side Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Lt | $2,396.55 | $3,687.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Avera Holy Family Hospital one side Estherville · Estherville, IA | $2,495.81 | $2,573.00 | — source file |
| St Anthony Regional Hospital and Nursing Home Carroll · Carroll, IA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $3,020.00 | $3,020.00 | Nov 3, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center one side West Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Rt | $3,687.00 | $3,687.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Check the item The description in the hospital file looks like a supply or device (a catheter, a brace, an implant), not this procedure. The hospital may have filed it under the wrong code: ask before relying on this price.
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 6 | $724.00 | $1,756.48 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3 | $639.60 | $739.20 |
| Iowa City, IA | 3 | $440.25 | $2,375.10 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 3 | $356.00 | $558.90 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 3 | $258.96 | $1,076.90 |
| Carroll, IA | 2 | $1,685.05 | $2,352.52 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 2 | $1,131.20 | $1,321.44 |
| Clinton, IA | 2 | $739.20 | $1,002.38 |
| Dubuque, IA | 2 | $945.24 | $1,560.07 |
| Algona, IA | 1 | $723.20 | $723.20 |
| Atlantic, IA | 1 | $623.00 | $623.00 |
| Audubon, IA | 1 | $600.00 | $600.00 |
| Ames, IA | 1 | $1,891.06 | $1,891.06 |
| Belmond, IA | 1 | $451.20 | $451.20 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $1,990.73 | $1,990.73 |
| Centerville, IA | 1 | $1,793.00 | $1,793.00 |
| Charles City, IA | 1 | $553.67 | $553.67 |
| Cherokee, IA | 1 | $913.50 | $913.50 |
| Clarinda, IA | 1 | $708.75 | $708.75 |
| Clarion, IA | 1 | $469.20 | $469.20 |
| Corning, IA | 1 | $320.40 | $320.40 |
| Corydon, IA | 1 | $1,389.00 | $1,389.00 |
| Decorah, IA | 1 | $991.20 | $991.20 |
| Denison, IA | 1 | $760.00 | $760.00 |
| Emmetsburg, IA | 1 | $2,127.00 | $2,127.00 |
| Estherville, IA | 1 | $2,495.81 | $2,495.81 |
| Fairfield, IA | 1 | $660.00 | $660.00 |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $923.31 | $923.31 |
| Grinnell, IA | 1 | $1,520.44 | $1,520.44 |
| Guttenberg, IA | 1 | $1,388.00 | $1,388.00 |
| Harlan, IA | 1 | $599.14 | $599.14 |
| Iowa Falls, IA | 1 | $608.00 | $608.00 |
| Jefferson, IA | 1 | $493.92 | $493.92 |
| Lake City, IA | 1 | $949.00 | $949.00 |
| Leon, IA | 1 | $1,063.20 | $1,063.20 |
| Manchester, IA | 1 | $1,568.80 | $1,568.80 |
| Maquoketa, IA | 1 | $2,137.00 | $2,137.00 |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $1,076.90 | $1,076.90 |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $2,012.40 | $2,012.40 |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $905.60 | $905.60 |
| New Hampton, IA | 1 | $1,165.45 | $1,165.45 |
| Orange City, IA | 1 | $425.60 | $425.60 |
| Pella, IA | 1 | $215.40 | $215.40 |
| Sac City, IA | 1 | $744.00 | $744.00 |
| Sheldon, IA | 1 | $1,886.40 | $1,886.40 |
| Shenandoah, IA | 1 | $358.15 | $358.15 |
| Sioux Center, IA | 1 | $287.12 | $287.12 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $1,445.28 | $1,445.28 |
| Spencer, IA | 1 | $1,538.25 | $1,538.25 |
| Spirit Lake, IA | 1 | $1,829.70 | $1,829.70 |
| Storm Lake, IA | 1 | $975.20 | $975.20 |
| Waukon, IA | 1 | $571.71 | $571.71 |
| West Union, IA | 1 | $1,024.65 | $1,024.65 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What thoracentesis is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Thoracentesis explained.
Thoracentesis with imaging guidance in other states
- Alabama$1,055.53
- Alaska$2,211.30
- Arizona$1,106.95
- Arkansas$925.00
- California$2,033.20
- Colorado$1,250.95
- Connecticut$1,253.00
- Delaware$1,784.75
- District of Columbia$1,228.69, 3 hospitals
- Florida$1,874.28
- Georgia$1,410.41
- Hawaii$1,434.00
- Idaho$1,155.70
- Illinois$1,250.00
- Indiana$1,095.50
- Kansas$969.83
- Kentucky$978.22
- Louisiana$646.80
- Maine$686.40
- Maryland$1,249.16
- Massachusetts$1,787.00
- Michigan$1,092.18
- Minnesota$926.91
- Mississippi$843.94
- Missouri$1,022.79
- Montana$927.54
- Nebraska$939.00
- Nevada$1,259.58
- New Hampshire$1,063.30
- New Jersey$1,782.00
- New Mexico$1,229.41
- New York$1,282.00
- North Carolina$1,029.60
- North Dakota$792.75
- Ohio$1,737.60
- Oklahoma$684.00
- Oregon$1,534.65
- Pennsylvania$1,474.38
- Puerto Rico$600.00, 4 hospitals
- Rhode Island$1,714.65
- South Carolina$1,404.00
- South Dakota$1,842.00
- Tennessee$633.65
- Texas$1,410.82
- Utah$1,018.79
- Vermont$1,258.00
- Virginia$1,321.80
- Washington$1,321.84
- West Virginia$1,250.40
- Wisconsin$1,200.00
- Wyoming$1,088.89
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.