Thoracentesis cost in Missouri
In Missouri, 58 hospitals publish a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $126.44 to $6,481.20, with a median of $1,022.79. The lowest price is at Missouri Delta Medical Center (Sikeston). The highest price is 51.3× the lowest.
- The median here, $1,022.79, is 16% below the US median of $1,224.53.
- That is 1.6× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($640.89).
- Missouri ranks 15th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 6 of 58 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 2, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$126.44Missouri Delta Medical Center
Median$1,022.79half of hospitals charge less
Highest$6,481.20in Missouri
Lowest saves$896.35vs the median
Hospitals in Missouri, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri Delta Medical Center lowest Sikeston · Sikeston, MO ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $126.44 | $505.75 | Aug 7, 2026 source file |
| Citizens Memorial Hospital Bolivar · Springfield, MO ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $212.00 | $265.00 | Mar 25, 2026 source file |
| Carroll County Memorial Hospital Carrollton · Carrollton, MO 32555 - Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $243.75 | $325.00 | Jul 7, 2024 source file |
| Texas County Memorial Hospital Houston · Houston, MO THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING GUIDANCE | $256.90 | $367.00 | Jul 17, 2026 source file |
| Pike County Memorial Hospital Lousiana · Lousiana, MO 32555-Thoracentesis w/ Imaging Guidance | $259.20 | $324.00 | May 5, 2026 source file |
| Golden Valley Memorial Hospital one side Clinton · Clinton, MO ASPIRATION OF FLUID FROM CHEST CAVITY USING IMAGING GUIDANCE | $300.81 | $501.35 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakewood Medical Center Kansas City · Kansas City, MO-KS 32555 Aspirate Pleura w/ Imaging WPR | $568.15 | $1,033.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| University Health Truman Medical Center one side Kansas City · Kansas City, MO-KS LT | $568.15 | $1,033.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Community Hospital Association Fairfax · Fairfax, MO US THORACENTESIS | $621.60 | $888.00 | Aug 21, 2026 source file |
| Bothwell Regional Health Center Sedalia · Sedalia, MO ASPIRATION OF FLUID FROM CHEST CAVITY USING IMAGING GUIDANCE | $621.75 | $829.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| St Joseph Medical Center Kansas City · Kansas City, MO-KS Hc Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath Pleura Asp W Imag | $625.00 | $5,918.10 | Mar 17, 2026 source file |
| Hermann Area Hospital District Hermann · Hermann, MO Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $687.60 | $1,146.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| Scotland County Memorial Hospital Memphis · Memphis, MO ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $693.00 | $990.00 | Oct 24, 2026 source file |
| Cox Medical Center Branson Branson · Branson, MO ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $703.07 | $3,097.22 | Apr 24, 2026 source file |
| Lake Regional Health System Osage Beach · Osage Beach, MO Aspirate pleura w/ imaging | $714.87 | $2,382.89 | Oct 15, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Springfield Springfield · Springfield, MO Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $720.85 | $1,109.00 | Jun 4, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Orthopedic Hospital Springfield Ozark · Springfield, MO Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $720.85 | $1,109.00 | Jun 4, 2026 source file |
| Bates County Memorial Hospital Butler · Kansas City, MO-KS US SP THORACENTESIS-INT OR SUB | $729.87 | $1,042.66 | Apr 20, 2026 source file |
| Lester E Cox Medical Centers Springfield · Springfield, MO ASPIRATION OF FLUID FROM CHEST CAVITY USING IMAGING GUIDANCE | $780.50 | $3,097.22 | Apr 24, 2026 source file |
| Northeast Regional Medical Center Kirksville · Kirksville, MO US-THORACNTSIS W IMG | $798.66 | $3,327.74 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Harrison County Community Hospital Bethany · Bethany, MO ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $812.50 | $1,250.00 | Oct 8, 2026 source file |
| Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City · Kansas City, MO-KS ASPIR PLEURA W/IMG | $847.68 | $1,766.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Liberty Hospital Liberty · Kansas City, MO-KS 3E ASPIR PLEURA W/IMAGING | $859.00 | $3,080.00 | Jul 9, 2026 source file |
| Fitzgibbon Hospital Marshall · Marshall, MO Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $859.28 | $1,074.10 | Feb 2, 2026 source file |
| Nevada City Hospital Nevada · Nevada, MO THORACENTESIS W IMAGING | $942.75 | $2,095.00 | Jan 14, 2025 source file |
| Cass Regional Medical Center Harrisonville · Kansas City, MO-KS Thoracentesis w/guidance 32555 | $943.60 | $1,348.00 | Apr 7, 2026 source file |
| Cox-Monett Hospital Monett · Monett, MO ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $944.65 | $3,097.22 | Apr 24, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Southeast Cape Girardeau · Cape Girardeau, MO-IL Thoracentesis Asp Pleural Space W Guidance | $951.60 | $1,464.00 | Jun 11, 2026 source file |
| Cox Barton County Hospital Lamar · Lamar, MO ASPIRATION OF FLUID FROM CHEST CAVITY USING IMAGING GUIDANCE | $988.01 | $3,097.22 | Apr 24, 2026 source file |
| Freeman Health System - Freeman West Joplin · Joplin, MO-KS THORACENTESIS | $1,057.56 | $2,643.90 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Freeman Health System - Freeman West Joplin · Joplin, MO-KS THORACENTESIS | $1,057.56 | $2,643.90 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Freeman Neosho Hospital Neosho · Joplin, MO-KS THORACENTESIS | $1,057.56 | $2,643.90 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Lebanon Lebanon · Lebanon, MO Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $1,086.80 | $1,672.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Lincoln Troy · St. Louis, MO-IL Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $1,100.45 | $1,693.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| Mosaic Medical Center Albany Albany · Albany, MO HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,105.00 | $1,300.00 | Sep 26, 2025 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Carthage Carthage · Joplin, MO-KS Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $1,113.45 | $1,713.00 | Jun 9, 2026 source file |
| Western Missouri Medical Center Warrensburg · Warrensburg, MO Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; wo imaging guidance | $1,127.50 | $1,127.50 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Cassville Cassville · Cassville, MO Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $1,151.15 | $1,771.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| Mercy St. Francis Hospital Mountain View · West Plains, MO Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $1,151.15 | $1,771.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| Mosaic Medical Center Maryville Maryville · Maryville, MO HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,190.00 | $1,400.00 | Sep 26, 2025 source file |
| Mercy Hospital St Louis Saint Louis · St. Louis, MO-IL Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $1,368.90 | $2,106.00 | Jun 4, 2026 source file |
| Moberly Regional Medical Center Moberly · Moberly, MO CT-THORACNTSIS W IMG | $1,487.61 | $5,509.68 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Curators of the University of Missouri Columbia · Columbia, MO THORAC NEEDLE/CATH ASPIR PLEURAL W IMING-JCT | $1,519.20 | $2,532.00 | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
| Boone Hospital Center one side Columbia · Columbia, MO THORACENTESIS PLEURA W/IMAG RT | $1,559.40 | $2,599.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sullivan County Memorial Hospital Milan · Milan, MO THORACENTESIS W/ IMAGING GUIDANCE | $1,736.00 | $1,736.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Joplin Joplin · Joplin, MO-KS Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $1,751.75 | $2,695.00 | Jun 9, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Washington Washington · St. Louis, MO-IL Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $1,901.90 | $2,926.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital South Saint Louis · St. Louis, MO-IL Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $2,164.90 | $3,330.62 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center Poplar Bluff · Poplar Bluff, MO IR Thoracentesis w Imging Guidance | $2,307.58 | $10,988.47 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Francis Medical Center Cape Girardeau · Cape Girardeau, MO-IL Hc Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging | $2,575.00 | $2,575.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Heartland Long Term Acute Hospital St. Joseph · St. Joseph, MO-KS HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,720.00 | $3,200.00 | Jun 23, 2026 source file |
| Mosaic Life Care at St Joseph Medical Center St. Joseph · St. Joseph, MO-KS HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,720.00 | $3,200.00 | Sep 26, 2025 source file |
| Mercy Perry Perryville · Perryville, MO Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $2,724.80 | $4,192.00 | Mar 12, 2026 source file |
| Phelps Health one side Rolla · Rolla, MO ASPIRATION OF FLUID FROM CHEST CAVITY USING IMAGING GUIDANCE | $2,820.76 | $4,029.65 | Feb 26, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Jefferson Festus · St. Louis, MO-IL Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $3,035.50 | $4,670.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| Lee's Summit Medical Center Lee's Summit · Kansas City, MO-KS THORACENTESIS W/ IMAG | $3,189.92 | $3,189.92 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Research Medical Center Kansas City · Kansas City, MO-KS Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $5,929.89 | $5,929.89 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Centerpoint Medical Center Independence · Kansas City, MO-KS THORACENTESIS W/ IMAG | $6,481.20 | $6,481.20 | Sep 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 10 | $568.15 | $853.34 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | 5 | $1,057.56 | $1,057.56 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 5 | $1,100.45 | $1,901.90 |
| Springfield, MO | 4 | $212.00 | $720.85 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 2 | $951.60 | $1,763.30 |
| Columbia, MO | 2 | $1,519.20 | $1,539.30 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | 2 | $2,720.00 | $2,720.00 |
| Albany, MO | 1 | $1,105.00 | $1,105.00 |
| Bethany, MO | 1 | $812.50 | $812.50 |
| Branson, MO | 1 | $703.07 | $703.07 |
| Carrollton, MO | 1 | $243.75 | $243.75 |
| Cassville, MO | 1 | $1,151.15 | $1,151.15 |
| Clinton, MO | 1 | $300.81 | $300.81 |
| Fairfax, MO | 1 | $621.60 | $621.60 |
| Hermann, MO | 1 | $687.60 | $687.60 |
| Houston, MO | 1 | $256.90 | $256.90 |
| Kirksville, MO | 1 | $798.66 | $798.66 |
| Lamar, MO | 1 | $988.01 | $988.01 |
| Lousiana, MO | 1 | $259.20 | $259.20 |
| Lebanon, MO | 1 | $1,086.80 | $1,086.80 |
| Memphis, MO | 1 | $693.00 | $693.00 |
| Milan, MO | 1 | $1,736.00 | $1,736.00 |
| Monett, MO | 1 | $944.65 | $944.65 |
| Marshall, MO | 1 | $859.28 | $859.28 |
| Maryville, MO | 1 | $1,190.00 | $1,190.00 |
| Moberly, MO | 1 | $1,487.61 | $1,487.61 |
| Nevada, MO | 1 | $942.75 | $942.75 |
| Osage Beach, MO | 1 | $714.87 | $714.87 |
| Perryville, MO | 1 | $2,724.80 | $2,724.80 |
| Poplar Bluff, MO | 1 | $2,307.58 | $2,307.58 |
| Rolla, MO | 1 | $2,820.76 | $2,820.76 |
| Sedalia, MO | 1 | $621.75 | $621.75 |
| Sikeston, MO | 1 | $126.44 | $126.44 |
| Warrensburg, MO | 1 | $1,127.50 | $1,127.50 |
| West Plains, MO | 1 | $1,151.15 | $1,151.15 |
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
- 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
- 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.