Thoracentesis cost in Washington
In Washington, 56 hospitals publish a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $151.90 to $4,462.90, with a median of $1,321.84. The lowest price is at Kadlec Regional Medical Center (Richland). The highest price is 29.4× the lowest.
- The median here, $1,321.84, 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).
- Washington ranks 35th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 4 of 56 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Washington law (RCW 70.170.060) requires hospital charity care: patients with family income up to 300% of the federal poverty level owe nothing at hospitals in large health systems (200% at other hospitals), with 75% and 50% discounts up to 400% (300% at other hospitals). It covers the part of the bill a patient owes, insured or not. Ask the hospital for its charity care application. Other states' laws.
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$151.90Kadlec Regional Medical Center
Median$1,321.84half of hospitals charge less
Highest$4,462.90in Washington
Lowest saves$1,169.94vs the median
Hospitals in Washington, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kadlec Regional Medical Center lowest Richland · Kennewick-Richland, WA HC PR 32555 THORANCENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W IMAGING | $151.90 | $217.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Snoqualmie · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Facility Fee HC THORACENTESIS W/ IMAGING | $168.39 | $290.33 | Apr 14, 2026 source file |
| Quincy Valley Medical Center Quincy · Moses Lake, WA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $173.40 | $173.40 | May 27, 2026 source file |
| Providence Mount Carmel Hospital Colville · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC PR 32555 THORANCENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W IMAGING | $189.00 | $270.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence St Mary Medical Center Walla Walla · Walla Walla, WA HC PR 32555 THORANCENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W IMAGING | $189.00 | $270.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Prov Sacred Hrt Medical Center & Childs Hospital Spokane · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC PR ED 32555 THORACENTESIS/ASPIR W IMG GD CDM | $190.40 | $272.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Summit Pacific Medical Center Elma · Aberdeen, WA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $191.70 | $355.00 | Aug 31, 2026 source file |
| Providence St Joseph Hospital Chewelah · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC PR ED 32555 THORACENTESIS/ASPIR W IMG GD CDM | $196.00 | $280.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Astria Toppenish Hospital Toppenish · Yakima, WA 32555 Thoracentesis, needle or catheter, aspiratio | $212.55 | $327.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Whitman Hospital and Medical Center Colfax · Pullman, WA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $243.20 | $304.00 | Jun 29, 2026 source file |
| Lourdes Health Pasco · Kennewick-Richland, WA ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $456.13 | $1,140.33 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Lincoln Hospital Davenport · Davenport, WA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $459.91 | $511.01 | Sep 14, 2026 source file |
| Providence Regional Medical Center Everett Everett · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC PR ED 32555 THORACENTESIS/ASPIR W IMG GD CDM | $476.32 | $916.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Clare Hospital Lakewood · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC THORACENTESIS/ASP WITH IMAG | $703.74 | $2,440.14 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Klickitat Valley Hospital Goldendale · Goldendale, WA THORACENTESIS PLEUR ASP W GUID | $720.00 | $900.00 | Dec 2, 2024 source file |
| St Anthony Hospital Gig Harbor · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC THORACENTESIS/ASP WITH IMAG | $742.05 | $2,440.14 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Highline Medical Center Burien · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC THORACENTESIS/ASP WITH IMAG | $742.78 | $2,440.14 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| St Francis Community Hospital Federal Way · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC THORACENTESIS/ASP WITH IMAG | $750.35 | $2,440.14 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Othello Community Hospital Othello · Othello, WA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $765.38 | $1,020.50 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| St Joseph Medical Center Tacoma · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC THORACENTESIS/ASP WITH IMAG | $850.71 | $2,568.57 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Cascade Medical Center Leavenworth · Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA Aspirate pleura w/ imaging BL | $858.40 | $1,073.00 | May 15, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Hospital Enumclaw · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC THORACENTESIS/ASP WITH IMAG | $896.02 | $2,440.14 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Ocean Beach Hospital Ilwaco · Ilwaco, WA HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $963.75 | $1,285.00 | Oct 23, 2026 source file |
| Pullman Regional Hospital Pullman · Pullman, WA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $1,031.05 | $1,213.00 | Jun 9, 2026 source file |
| St. Michael Medical Center Silverdale · Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA HC THORACENTESIS/ASP WITH IMAG | $1,133.64 | $2,568.57 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Willapa Harbor Hospital South Bend · South Bend, WA ASPIRATION OF FLUID FROM CHEST CAVITY USING IMAGING GUIDANCE | $1,210.30 | $1,729.00 | Feb 24, 2026 source file |
| Prosser Memorial Health Hospital Prosser · Kennewick-Richland, WA HC ED THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING CDM | $1,244.10 | $2,262.00 | Jan 1, 2025 source file |
| Olympic Medical Center Port Angeles · Port Angeles, WA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity | $1,277.60 | $1,597.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Issaquah Issaquah · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC US THORACENTESIS | $1,366.08 | $2,846.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Medical Center Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,366.08 | $2,846.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Medical Center / Cherry Hill Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,366.08 | $2,846.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Confluence Health Hospital Wenatchee · Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA HC US Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $1,372.50 | $1,525.00 | Aug 10, 2026 source file |
| Virginia Mason Medical Center Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ED - ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,386.18 | $2,718.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Kittitas County Public Hospital Dist 1 Ellensburg · Ellensburg, WA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $1,501.95 | $1,767.00 | Oct 7, 2026 source file |
| Overlake Medical Center & Clinics Bellevue · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Hc Thoracentesis W/ Imaging | $1,551.00 | $3,102.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Forks Community Hospital Forks · Port Townsend, WA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $1,559.20 | $1,949.00 | Oct 27, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth United General Medical Center Sedro Woolley · Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,567.80 | $2,412.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center Friday Harbor · Friday Harbor, WA ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,570.40 | $2,416.00 | Mar 20, 2026 source file |
| Jefferson Healthcare Port Townsend · Port Townsend, WA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $1,677.60 | $2,097.00 | Aug 6, 2026 source file |
| Providence Holy Family Hospital Spokane · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,790.60 | $2,558.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth St John Medical Center Longview · Longview-Kelso, WA ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,823.90 | $2,806.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center Bellingham · Bellingham, WA ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,977.30 | $3,042.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| Valley Medical Center Renton · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging | $2,039.80 | $2,914.00 | Mar 12, 2026 source file |
| Arbor Health Morton Hospital Morton · Centralia, WA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $2,091.26 | $3,373.00 | May 18, 2026 source file |
| Providence Centralia Hospital Centralia · Centralia, WA HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,091.96 | $4,023.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence St Peter Hospital Olympia · Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA HC ED THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING CDM | $2,091.96 | $4,023.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Samaritan Hospital Moses Lake · Moses Lake, WA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity w/imaging | $2,211.00 | $2,211.00 | Jan 4, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Permanente Central Hospital Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA "IVR THORACENTESIS NEEDLE, OR CATH W/IMAGING GUIDANCE" | $2,240.00 | $2,800.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Cascade Valley Hospital Arlington · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING GUIDE | $2,306.40 | $2,883.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Vancouver · Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA HC THORACENTESIS W/ASPIRATION & IMAGING GUIDANCE | $2,324.40 | $3,576.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ferry County Memorial Hospital Republic · Republic, WA THORACENTISIS W/IMAGING | $2,428.11 | $2,856.60 | Sep 14, 2026 source file |
| Lake Chelan Community Hospital Chelan · Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $2,564.26 | $2,564.26 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Astria Sunnyside Hospital Sunnyside · Kennewick-Richland, WA THORACENTESIS;IMAGING GUIDED | $2,897.88 | $5,084.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Skagit Valley Hospital Mount Vernon · Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA HC CT ASP PLEURA | $2,924.00 | $3,655.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center one side Vancouver · Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ASPIRATION OF FLUID FROM CHEST CAVITY USING IMAGING GUIDANCE | $2,972.45 | $4,573.00 | Mar 20, 2026 source file |
| Seattle Children's Hospital Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Thoracentesi | $4,462.90 | $4,462.90 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 17 | $168.39 | $1,366.08 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 4 | $151.90 | $850.12 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 4 | $189.00 | $193.20 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 3 | $858.40 | $1,372.50 |
| Centralia, WA | 2 | $2,091.26 | $2,091.61 |
| Moses Lake, WA | 2 | $173.40 | $1,192.20 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 2 | $1,567.80 | $2,245.90 |
| Port Townsend, WA | 2 | $1,559.20 | $1,618.40 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2 | $2,324.40 | $2,648.42 |
| Pullman, WA | 2 | $243.20 | $637.12 |
| Aberdeen, WA | 1 | $191.70 | $191.70 |
| Bellingham, WA | 1 | $1,977.30 | $1,977.30 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 1 | $1,133.64 | $1,133.64 |
| Davenport, WA | 1 | $459.91 | $459.91 |
| Ellensburg, WA | 1 | $1,501.95 | $1,501.95 |
| Friday Harbor, WA | 1 | $1,570.40 | $1,570.40 |
| Goldendale, WA | 1 | $720.00 | $720.00 |
| Ilwaco, WA | 1 | $963.75 | $963.75 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 1 | $1,823.90 | $1,823.90 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 1 | $2,091.96 | $2,091.96 |
| Othello, WA | 1 | $765.38 | $765.38 |
| Port Angeles, WA | 1 | $1,277.60 | $1,277.60 |
| Republic, WA | 1 | $2,428.11 | $2,428.11 |
| South Bend, WA | 1 | $1,210.30 | $1,210.30 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 1 | $189.00 | $189.00 |
| Yakima, WA | 1 | $212.55 | $212.55 |
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
- Virginia$1,321.80
- West Virginia$1,250.40
- Wisconsin$1,200.00
- Wyoming$1,088.89
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.