Chest fluid drain (thoracentesis) cost in Arkansas

Prices at 38 hospitals in Arkansas, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $858 — 31% below the US median ($1,239), roughly 2.8× the Medicare rate.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
McGehee Hospital Mcgehee, AR $208 $270 — 142 min —
Unity Health-Jacksonville Jacksonville, AR $261 — — 130 min —
Unity Health-Newport Newport, AR $261 — — 103 min —
North Arkansas Regional Medical Center Harrison, AR $364 $113 ★ 2/5 149 min —
CHI-St Vincent Infirmary Little Rock, AR $366 $740 ★ 3/5 173 min —
St Vincent Medical Center/north Sherwood, AR $371 $595 ★ 4/5 128 min —
CHI St Vincent Morrilton Morrilton, AR $372 $588 — 98 min —
Baptist Memorial Hospital Jonesboro, Inc. Jonesboro, AR $417 $855 ★ 3/5 128 min —
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden, Inc West Memphis, AR $417 $855 — 139 min —
Johnson Regional Medical Center Clarksville, AR $452 $180 ★ 4/5 143 min —
Baptist Health Medical Center Heber Springs Heber Springs, AR $498 $941 ★ 3/5 110 min —
Lawrence Memorial Hospital Walnut Ridge, AR $572 $430 — 90 min —
Ozark Health Clinton, AR $576 $380 ★ 4/5 132 min —
Howard Memorial Hospital Nashville, AR $615 $1,537 ★ 3/5 109 min —
Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center Llc Hope, AR $615 $1,538 — 76 min —
Southwest Regional Medical Center Llc Hope, AR $615 $1,538 — — —
Mercy Hospital Booneville Booneville, AR $675 $623 ★ 4/5 72 min —
Baxter Health Mountain Home, AR $731 $659 ★ 2/5 184 min —
Conway Regional Medical Center, Inc Conway, AR $858 $690 ★ 2/5 178 min —
University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Little Rock, AR $880 $604 ★ 2/5 285 min —
Arkansas State Hospital Little Rock, AR $880 $604 — — —
Mercy Hospital Berryville Berryville, AR $968 $399 — 114 min —
Arkansas Children's Hospital Little Rock, AR $993 $841 — — —
Arkansas Children's Northwest, Inc Springdale, AR $993 $841 — — —
Baptist Health Medical Center-Drew County Monticello, AR $1,001 $783 ★ 2/5 122 min —

CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated October 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$1,529
Cash / self-pay
$858
Insurer-negotiated
$710
Medicare pays
$311
$365$1,257
Median cash $858  ·  Medicare $311  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $858 — about 2.8× the Medicare rate ($311). On the higher side. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($622).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $1,529 list price could save about $671 (44%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
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Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.

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Chest fluid drain (thoracentesis) cost in other states

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