Thoracentesis cost in Kentucky
In Kentucky, 53 hospitals publish a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $179.20 to $3,153.94, with a median of $978.22. The lowest price is at Casey County Hospital (Liberty). The highest price is 17.6× the lowest.
- The median here, $978.22, 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).
- Kentucky ranks 12th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 3 of 53 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 11, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$179.20Casey County Hospital
Median$978.22half of hospitals charge less
Highest$3,153.94in Kentucky
Lowest saves$799.02vs the median
Hospitals in Kentucky, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casey County Hospital lowest Liberty · Liberty, KY THORACENTESIS W/IMAG | $179.20 | $224.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph London London · Corbin, KY HC U/S Thoracentesis Guid | $319.67 | $911.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Breckinridge Memorial Hospital Hardinsburg · Hardinsburg, KY Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $374.50 | $749.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| CHI Saint Joseph Flaget Memorial Hospital Bardstown · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HC U/S Thoracentesis Guid | $384.44 | $911.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville Madisonville · Madisonville, KY HC THORACENTESIS WITH IMAGE GUIDE | $394.44 | $3,034.12 | Feb 3, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph Mount Sterling Mt. Sterling · Mount Sterling, KY HC U/S Thoracentesis Guid | $399.61 | $1,058.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Clark Regional Medical Center Winchester · Lexington-Fayette, KY Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $482.20 | $1,205.51 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Bowling Green Bowling Green · Bowling Green, KY ASPIRATE PLEURA W IMAGING | $490.03 | $944.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph East Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY HC Thoracentesis W/Imaging | $511.86 | $1,219.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Continuing Care Hospital Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $540.51 | $1,219.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Albany Albany · Albany, KY CCU THORACENTESIS W US GUID | $566.40 | $944.00 | Jul 1, 2024 source file |
| The Medical Center at Caverna Horse Cave · Horse Cave, KY ICU THORACENTESIS W US GUID | $566.40 | $944.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Russellville Russellville · Russellville, KY CCU THORACENTESIS W US GUID | $566.40 | $944.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Scottsville Scottsville · Bowling Green, KY ICU THORACENTESIS W US GUID | $566.40 | $944.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph Hospital Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY HC Thoracentesis W/Imaging | $578.90 | $1,219.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| CHI Saint Joseph Berea Nf Berea · Richmond-Berea, KY HC Thoracentesis W/Imaging | $653.59 | $1,349.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph Hospital Nicholasville · Lexington-Fayette, KY HC Thoracentesis W/Imaging | $653.87 | $1,219.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| T J Samson Community Hospital Glasgow · Glasgow, KY Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $666.90 | $1,026.00 | Oct 21, 2026 source file |
| Tj Health Columbia Columbia · Columbia, KY Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $666.90 | $1,026.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Livingston Hospital and Healthcare Services Salem · Paducah, KY-IL CT Thoracentesis w/ CT Guidance | $708.75 | $1,181.25 | Aug 25, 2026 source file |
| Harlan Arh Hospital one side Harlan · Harlan, KY THORACENTESIS W/IMG RT | $752.40 | $1,254.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Hazard Appalachian Regional Healthcare Regional Medical Center one side Hazard · Hazard, KY THORACENTESIS W/IMG LT | $752.40 | $1,254.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Highlands Arh Regional Medical Center one side Prestonsburg · Pikeville, KY THORACENTESIS W/IMG LT | $752.40 | $1,254.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Paintsville Arh Hospital one side Paintsville · Paintsville, KY THORACENTESIS W/IMG RT | $752.40 | $1,254.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Harrison Memorial Hospital Cynthiana · Cynthiana, KY ASPIRATION OF FLUID FROM CHEST CAVITY USING IMAGING GUIDANCE | $873.43 | $1,247.75 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Wayne County Hospital Monticello · Monticello, KY THORACENTESIS US GUI | $940.06 | $1,446.25 | Sep 14, 2026 source file |
| Jennie Stuart Medical Center Hopkinsville · Clarksville, TN-KY HC THORACENTESIS W IMAGE GUIDANCE | $978.22 | $3,155.54 | Feb 12, 2026 source file |
| Rockcastle County Hospital Mount Vernon · Richmond-Berea, KY Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $1,115.68 | $1,468.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Georgetown Community Hospital Georgetown · Lexington-Fayette, KY Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $1,184.16 | $2,960.39 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Whitesburg Arh Hospital one side Whitesburg · Whitesburg, KY THORACENTESIS W/IMG RT | $1,224.00 | $2,040.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| St Claire Medical Center Morehead · Morehead, KY Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $1,297.50 | $1,730.00 | Jun 18, 2026 source file |
| Deaconess Henderson Hospital Henderson · Henderson, KY HC THORACENTESIS WITH IMAGE GUIDE | $1,310.10 | $4,367.00 | Feb 9, 2026 source file |
| Pineville Community Health Center Pineville · Middlesborough, KY Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $1,375.00 | $1,375.00 | Jan 24, 2026 source file |
| Jackson Purchase Medical Center Mayfield · Mayfield, KY Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $1,531.08 | $3,827.71 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Kentucky River Medical Center Jackson · Jackson, KY Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $1,558.01 | $2,596.68 | Sep 17, 2026 source file |
| Knox County Hospital one side Barbourville · Corbin, KY THORACENTESIS W/IMG LT | $1,608.00 | $2,680.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Middlesboro Arh Hospital one side Middlesboro · Middlesborough, KY THORACENTESIS W/IMG LT | $1,608.00 | $2,680.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Tug Valley Appalachian Regional Healthcare Regional Medical Center one side South Williamson · Pikeville, KY THORACENTESIS W/IMG LT | $1,608.00 | $2,680.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| King's Daughters' Medical Center Ashland · Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HCHG THORACENTESIS /W IMAGE GUIDANCE | $1,739.05 | $4,347.62 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Meadowview Regional Medical Center Maysville · Maysville, KY Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $1,747.79 | $4,369.47 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| University of Kentucky Hospital one side Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY Hc Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging-Unilateral | $1,807.68 | $4,519.20 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Deaconess Union County Hospital Morganfield · Morganfield, KY HC THORACENTESIS WITH IMAGE GUIDE | $1,895.04 | $4,032.00 | Feb 13, 2026 source file |
| Murray-Calloway County Public Hospital Murray · Murray, KY Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $2,000.70 | $3,078.00 | Sep 9, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Edgewood Edgewood · Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HB THORACENTESIS ASPIR OF PLEURAL SPACE W IMAGE | $2,482.55 | $2,482.55 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Corbin Corbin · Corbin, KY Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $2,895.22 | $3,860.29 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Hardin Elizabethtown · Elizabethtown, KY Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $2,895.22 | $3,860.29 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health LaGrange La Grange · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $2,895.22 | $3,860.29 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Lexington Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $2,895.22 | $3,860.29 | Sep 28, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Louisville Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $2,895.22 | $3,860.29 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Paducah Paducah · Paducah, KY-IL Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $2,895.22 | $3,860.29 | Sep 28, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Richmond Richmond · Richmond-Berea, KY Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $2,895.22 | $3,860.29 | Sep 28, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital Paducah · Paducah, KY-IL HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $3,099.60 | $5,166.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Manchester Manchester · Corbin, KY HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $3,153.94 | $3,153.94 | Apr 1, 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
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 8 | $482.20 | $616.38 |
| Corbin, KY | 4 | $319.67 | $2,251.61 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 3 | $384.44 | $2,895.22 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 3 | $708.75 | $2,895.22 |
| Richmond-Berea, KY | 3 | $653.59 | $1,115.68 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 2 | $490.03 | $528.22 |
| Middlesborough, KY | 2 | $1,375.00 | $1,491.50 |
| Pikeville, KY | 2 | $752.40 | $1,180.20 |
| Albany, KY | 1 | $566.40 | $566.40 |
| Columbia, KY | 1 | $666.90 | $666.90 |
| Cynthiana, KY | 1 | $873.43 | $873.43 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1 | $2,482.55 | $2,482.55 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 1 | $978.22 | $978.22 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 1 | $2,895.22 | $2,895.22 |
| Glasgow, KY | 1 | $666.90 | $666.90 |
| Hardinsburg, KY | 1 | $374.50 | $374.50 |
| Harlan, KY | 1 | $752.40 | $752.40 |
| Hazard, KY | 1 | $752.40 | $752.40 |
| Horse Cave, KY | 1 | $566.40 | $566.40 |
| Henderson, KY | 1 | $1,310.10 | $1,310.10 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 1 | $1,739.05 | $1,739.05 |
| Jackson, KY | 1 | $1,558.01 | $1,558.01 |
| Liberty, KY | 1 | $179.20 | $179.20 |
| Maysville, KY | 1 | $1,747.79 | $1,747.79 |
| Monticello, KY | 1 | $940.06 | $940.06 |
| Morehead, KY | 1 | $1,297.50 | $1,297.50 |
| Morganfield, KY | 1 | $1,895.04 | $1,895.04 |
| Madisonville, KY | 1 | $394.44 | $394.44 |
| Mayfield, KY | 1 | $1,531.08 | $1,531.08 |
| Mount Sterling, KY | 1 | $399.61 | $399.61 |
| Murray, KY | 1 | $2,000.70 | $2,000.70 |
| Paintsville, KY | 1 | $752.40 | $752.40 |
| Russellville, KY | 1 | $566.40 | $566.40 |
| Whitesburg, KY | 1 | $1,224.00 | $1,224.00 |
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
- Iowa$983.20
- Kansas$969.83
- 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.