Thoracentesis cost in Virginia
In Virginia, 48 hospitals publish a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $383.85 to $3,713.60, with a median of $1,321.80. The lowest price is at Johnston Memorial Hospital (Abingdon) and 3 other hospitals. The highest price is 9.7× the lowest.
- The median here, $1,321.80, is 8% above the US median of $1,224.53.
- That is 2.1× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($640.89).
- Virginia ranks 34th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- Every hospital here lists a cash price below its full list price.
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 Oct 29, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$383.85Johnston Memorial Hospital + 3 more
Median$1,321.80half of hospitals charge less
Highest$3,713.60in Virginia
Lowest saves$937.95vs the median
Hospitals in Virginia, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston Memorial Hospital lowest Abingdon · Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA HC THORACENTESIS ASPIR W IMAG GUID | $383.85 | $2,559.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Lonesome Pine Hospital lowest Big Stone Gap · Big Stone Gap, VA HC THORACENTESIS ASPIR W IMAG GUID | $383.85 | $2,559.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Russell County Hospital lowest Lebanon · Lebanon, VA HC THORACENTESIS ASPIR W IMAG GUID | $383.85 | $2,559.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Smyth County Community Hospital lowest Marion · Marion, VA HC THORACENTESIS ASPIR W IMAG GUID | $383.85 | $2,559.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Carilion New River Valley Medical Center Christiansburg · Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA HB THORACENTESIS ASP W/IMAGING | $732.20 | $2,092.00 | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
| Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital Rocky Mt · Roanoke, VA HB THORACENTESIS W IMAGING GUIDANCE | $766.85 | $2,191.00 | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
| Carilion Giles Community Hospital Roanoke · Roanoke, VA HB THORACENTESIS W IMAGING GUIDANCE | $766.85 | $2,191.00 | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
| Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital one side Roanoke · Roanoke, VA HB CT THORACENTESIS W GUIDE RT | $766.85 | $2,191.00 | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
| Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital one side Roanoke · Roanoke, VA HB CT THORACENTESIS W GUIDE RT | $766.85 | $2,191.00 | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital one side Lexington · Lexington, VA HB US THORACENTESIS W GUIDE RT | $766.85 | $2,191.00 | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
| Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital Tazewell · Bluefield, WV-VA HB THORACENTESIS W IMAGING GUIDANCE | $766.85 | $2,191.00 | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
| Mary Washington Hospital Fredericksburg · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Aspirate pleura w/ imaging | $776.50 | $1,553.00 | Dec 30, 2024 source file |
| Stafford Hospital Stafford · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Aspirate pleura w/ imaging | $776.50 | $1,553.00 | Dec 30, 2024 source file |
| Riverside Smithfield Hospital Smithfield · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Thoracentesis W/Imaging | $793.25 | $1,586.50 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| Augusta Health one side Fishersville · Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA Ct Thoracentesis Rt | $795.50 | $1,591.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours Southampton Memorial Hospital Franklin · Roanoke, VA HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $1,073.70 | $3,579.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bath Community Hospital Hot Springs · Hot Springs, VA THORACENTESIS WITH IMAGE GUIDE | $1,113.44 | $1,484.59 | Mar 25, 2026 source file |
| Inova Alexandria Hospital Alexandria · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV HC THORACENTESIS ASP PLEURAL SPC W/IMAGE | $1,161.50 | $2,323.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Fairfax · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV HC THORACENTESIS ASP PLEURAL SPC W/IMAGE | $1,161.50 | $2,323.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Inova Fairfax Hospital Falls Church · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV HC THORACENTESIS ASP PLEURAL SPC W/IMAGE | $1,161.50 | $2,323.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Inova Loudoun Hospital Leesburg · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV HC THORACENTESIS ASP PLEURAL SPC W/IMAGE | $1,161.50 | $2,323.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Alexandria · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV HC THORACENTESIS ASP PLEURAL SPC W/IMAGE | $1,161.50 | $2,323.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center Mechanicsville · Richmond, VA HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $1,321.80 | $2,203.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours St Francis Medical Center Midlothian · Richmond, VA HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $1,321.80 | $2,203.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours St Marys Hospital of Richmond Richmond · Richmond, VA HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $1,321.80 | $2,203.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Chesapeake General Hospital Chesapeake · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Hc Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $1,351.25 | $2,252.09 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Rappahannock General Hospital Kilmarnock · Kilmarnock, VA HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $1,426.80 | $2,378.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Twin County Regional Healthcare Galax · Galax, VA Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $1,735.31 | $4,338.27 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours Harbour View Medical Center Suffolk · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $1,891.20 | $3,152.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center Portsmouth · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $1,891.20 | $3,152.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mary Immaculate Hospital Newport News · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $1,891.20 | $3,152.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Fauquier Health Warrenton · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $1,940.40 | $4,851.00 | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital Charlottesville · Charlottesville, VA Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $2,209.00 | $4,418.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara RMH Medical Center Harrisonburg · Harrisonburg, VA Thoracentesis W/ Img Guide | $2,209.00 | $4,418.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Hospital for Extended Recovery Norfolk · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Thoracentesis W/ Img Guide | $2,363.00 | $4,726.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Careplex Hospital Hampton · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC 32555 Thoracentsis W Img Guid | $2,363.00 | $4,726.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Leigh Hospital Norfolk · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC 32555 Thoracentsis W Img Guid | $2,363.00 | $4,726.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Norfolk · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Thoracentesis W/ Img Guide | $2,363.00 | $4,726.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center Woodbridge · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $2,363.00 | $4,726.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Obici Hospital Suffolk · Suffolk, VA Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $2,363.00 | $4,726.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Princess Anne Hospital Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $2,363.00 | $4,726.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Thoracentesis W/ Img Guide | $2,363.00 | $4,726.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Clinch Valley Health Richlands · Bluefield, WV-VA Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $2,792.34 | $6,980.86 | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital South Boston · South Boston, VA Thoracentesis W/Img Guid | $3,088.50 | $6,177.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sovah Health - Danville Danville · Danville, VA Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $3,231.60 | $8,079.00 | Jul 11, 2026 source file |
| Wythe County Community Hospital Wytheville · Wytheville, VA Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $3,475.44 | $8,688.59 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours Southside Medical Center Petersburg · Richmond, VA HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $3,599.70 | $11,999.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sovah Health - Martinsville Martinsville · Martinsville, VA Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiration of the pleural space; with imaging guidance | $3,713.60 | $9,284.00 | 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
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 11 | $793.25 | $2,363.00 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 9 | $776.50 | $1,161.50 |
| Roanoke, VA | 5 | $766.85 | $766.85 |
| Richmond, VA | 4 | $1,321.80 | $1,321.80 |
| Bluefield, WV-VA | 2 | $766.85 | $1,779.60 |
| Big Stone Gap, VA | 1 | $383.85 | $383.85 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 1 | $732.20 | $732.20 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 1 | $2,209.00 | $2,209.00 |
| Danville, VA | 1 | $3,231.60 | $3,231.60 |
| Galax, VA | 1 | $1,735.31 | $1,735.31 |
| Hot Springs, VA | 1 | $1,113.44 | $1,113.44 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 1 | $2,209.00 | $2,209.00 |
| Kilmarnock, VA | 1 | $1,426.80 | $1,426.80 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 1 | $383.85 | $383.85 |
| Lebanon, VA | 1 | $383.85 | $383.85 |
| Lexington, VA | 1 | $766.85 | $766.85 |
| Marion, VA | 1 | $383.85 | $383.85 |
| Martinsville, VA | 1 | $3,713.60 | $3,713.60 |
| South Boston, VA | 1 | $3,088.50 | $3,088.50 |
| Suffolk, VA | 1 | $2,363.00 | $2,363.00 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | 1 | $795.50 | $795.50 |
| Wytheville, VA | 1 | $3,475.44 | $3,475.44 |
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 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
- 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.