Thoracentesis cost in North Carolina
In North Carolina, 53 hospitals publish a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $120.96 to $4,609.20, with a median of $1,029.60. The lowest price is at Iredell Memorial Hospital (Statesville). The highest price is 38.1× the lowest.
- The median here, $1,029.60, 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).
- North Carolina ranks 16th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 5 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$120.96Iredell Memorial Hospital
Median$1,029.60half of hospitals charge less
Highest$4,609.20in North Carolina
Lowest saves$908.64vs the median
Hospitals in North Carolina, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iredell Memorial Hospital lowest Statesville · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC US Guided Thorocentesis | $120.96 | $448.00 | Dec 31, 2025 source file |
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital Mooresville · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W IMAGING | $373.41 | $1,383.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Chowan Hospital one side Edenton · Edenton, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Lt-ED | $398.16 | $711.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Beaufort Hospital one side Washington · Washington, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Rt | $412.34 | $778.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Medical Center one side Greenville · Greenville, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Rt | $412.34 | $778.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke University Hospital Durham · Durham, NC Aspirate Pleura W Imaging | $447.12 | $1,656.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke Health Raleigh Hospital Raleigh · Raleigh-Cary, NC Aspirate Pleura W Imaging | $447.12 | $1,656.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke Regional Hospital Durham · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Aspirate Pleura W Imaging | $447.12 | $1,656.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Bertie Hospital one side Windsor · Windsor, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Lt-ED | $465.36 | $831.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Duplin Hospital one side Kenansville · Kenansville, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Rt-ED | $473.76 | $846.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital one side Tarboro · Rocky Mount, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Rt-ED | $480.48 | $858.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health North Hospital one side Roanoke Rapids · Roanoke Rapids, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Rt-ED | $602.00 | $1,075.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Randolph Health Asheboro · Asheboro, NC CT THORACENTESIS | $619.80 | $3,099.00 | Dec 30, 2024 source file |
| Erlanger Murphy Medical Center Murphy · Murphy, NC HC Thora W Image Guide | $642.60 | $918.00 | Jan 25, 2026 source file |
| The Outer Banks Hospital one side Nags Head · Kill Devil Hills, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Rt | $651.84 | $1,164.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| WakeMed Cary Hospital Cary · Raleigh-Cary, NC HC Thoracentesis W/Imaging | $676.40 | $1,780.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| WakeMed Raleigh Campus Raleigh · Raleigh-Cary, NC HC Thoracentesis W/Imaging | $676.40 | $1,780.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| East Carolina Health one side Ahoskie · Ahoskie, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Lt | $680.40 | $1,215.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Wilkes Regional Medical Center North Wilkesboro · North Wilkesboro, NC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $743.50 | $1,487.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital Elkin · Mount Airy, NC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $773.50 | $1,547.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Rutherford Regional Medical Center Rutherfordton · Forest City, NC Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $843.52 | $2,108.81 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Scotland Memorial Hospital and Edwin Morgan Center Laurinburg · Laurinburg, NC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $934.50 | $1,869.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| Betsy Johnson Hospital Dunn · Anderson Creek, NC ASPIRATION OF FLUID FROM CHEST CAVITY USING IMAGING GUIDANCE | $1,029.60 | $1,716.00 | Apr 7, 2026 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley - Bladen County Hospital Elizabethtown · Elizabethtown, NC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,029.60 | $1,716.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley - Hoke Hospital Raeford · Fayetteville, NC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,029.60 | $1,716.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Fayetteville · Fayetteville, NC ASPIRATION OF FLUID FROM CHEST CAVITY USING IMAGING GUIDANCE | $1,029.60 | $1,716.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital Fayetteville · Fayetteville, NC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,029.60 | $1,716.00 | Mar 22, 2026 source file |
| Lexington Medical Center Lexington · Winston-Salem, NC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,082.50 | $2,165.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Person Memorial Hospital Roxboro · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $1,391.60 | $3,479.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| High Point Regional Health High Point · Greensboro-High Point, NC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $1,393.50 | $2,787.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Columbus Regional Healthcare System Whiteville · Whiteville, NC US Guided Thoracentesis | $1,519.34 | $2,170.48 | Sep 1, 2025 source file |
| Sampson Regional Medical Center Clinton · Clinton, NC Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $1,537.90 | $2,197.00 | Nov 2, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Hendersonville Hendersonville · Asheville, NC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,571.00 | $1,571.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Frye Regional Medical Center Hickory · Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,660.81 | $4,152.02 | Jul 8, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Albemarle Regional Medical Center Elizabeth City · Elizabeth City, NC Thoracentesis W/ Img Guide | $1,702.00 | $3,404.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Harris Regional Hospital Sylva · Sylva, NC Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $1,823.61 | $4,559.03 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Winston Salem · Winston-Salem, NC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,986.50 | $3,973.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| AdventHealth Polk Columbus · Columbus, NC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,035.11 | $2,035.11 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Bermuda Run · Winston-Salem, NC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,096.00 | $4,192.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Anson Wadesboro · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,663.00 | $5,326.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Cleveland Shelby · Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $2,663.00 | $5,326.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Lincoln Lincolnton · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,663.00 | $5,326.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Mercy, a facility of Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,663.00 | $5,326.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Pineville Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $2,663.00 | $5,326.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Union Monroe · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,663.00 | $5,326.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health University City Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,663.00 | $5,326.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,663.00 | $5,326.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast Concord · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $2,663.00 | $5,326.00 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Stanly Regional Medical Center Albermarle · Albemarle, NC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,663.00 | $5,326.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| CaroMont Regional Medical Center - Gastonia Gastonia · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG ER THORACENTESIS PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,936.00 | $2,936.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Mount Holly · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG ER THORACENTESIS PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,936.00 | $2,936.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Belmont · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG ER THORACENTESIS PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,936.00 | $2,936.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Wilson Medical Center Wilson · Wilson, NC Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $4,609.20 | $11,523.00 | Jul 10, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 13 | $120.96 | $2,663.00 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 3 | $1,029.60 | $1,029.60 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 3 | $447.12 | $676.40 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 3 | $1,082.50 | $1,986.50 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 2 | $447.12 | $919.36 |
| Ahoskie, NC | 1 | $680.40 | $680.40 |
| Asheboro, NC | 1 | $619.80 | $619.80 |
| Albemarle, NC | 1 | $2,663.00 | $2,663.00 |
| Anderson Creek, NC | 1 | $1,029.60 | $1,029.60 |
| Asheville, NC | 1 | $1,571.00 | $1,571.00 |
| Clinton, NC | 1 | $1,537.90 | $1,537.90 |
| Columbus, NC | 1 | $2,035.11 | $2,035.11 |
| Durham, NC | 1 | $447.12 | $447.12 |
| Edenton, NC | 1 | $398.16 | $398.16 |
| Elizabethtown, NC | 1 | $1,029.60 | $1,029.60 |
| Elizabeth City, NC | 1 | $1,702.00 | $1,702.00 |
| Forest City, NC | 1 | $843.52 | $843.52 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 1 | $1,393.50 | $1,393.50 |
| Greenville, NC | 1 | $412.34 | $412.34 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 1 | $1,660.81 | $1,660.81 |
| Kenansville, NC | 1 | $473.76 | $473.76 |
| Kill Devil Hills, NC | 1 | $651.84 | $651.84 |
| Laurinburg, NC | 1 | $934.50 | $934.50 |
| Murphy, NC | 1 | $642.60 | $642.60 |
| Mount Airy, NC | 1 | $773.50 | $773.50 |
| North Wilkesboro, NC | 1 | $743.50 | $743.50 |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | 1 | $602.00 | $602.00 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 1 | $480.48 | $480.48 |
| Sylva, NC | 1 | $1,823.61 | $1,823.61 |
| Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 1 | $2,663.00 | $2,663.00 |
| Whiteville, NC | 1 | $1,519.34 | $1,519.34 |
| Windsor, NC | 1 | $465.36 | $465.36 |
| Washington, NC | 1 | $412.34 | $412.34 |
| Wilson, NC | 1 | $4,609.20 | $4,609.20 |
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
- 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 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.