Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity in Montana
Below is what hospitals in Montana charge if you pay cash, and the typical rate insurers negotiated.
Cash prices at 9 hospitals in Montana run from $236 to $1,516. The typical hospital charges $741. Where a hospital sits on this scale matters more than the number alone:
typical: $741
Cheaper than most hospitalsPricier than most hospitals
9 hospitals. Sort by: Cash price ▲ · Negotiated median · Gross charge · Negotiated low
What these numbers mean.
Cash price is what the hospital lists for patients paying out of pocket.
Negotiated median is the middle of what insurance companies actually agreed to pay.
Gross charge is the sticker price — almost nobody pays it.
What you will actually pay is usually different from both numbers:
with insurance, your deductible, copay, or coinsurance decides what you owe —
the negotiated rate is what the insurer pays, not your bill.
A single line item may not be the whole cost: physician, anesthesia, pathology,
and facility fees can be billed separately.
Prices vary by hospital and change over time; always confirm with the hospital before you go.
| Hospital | Cash price | Where it sits | Insurance pays (typical) | Gross charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Hospital Of Anaconda MT · Price file October 16, 2026 | $236Insurance typically pays $209Sticker price $315 | Lowest price of any hospital | $209 | $315 |
| Billings Clinic Hospital Billings, MT · Price file April 1, 2026 | $488Insurance typically pays $1,250Sticker price $488 | Cheaper than 88% of hospitals | $1,250 | $488 |
| Barrett Hospital & Healthcare MT · Price file June 12, 2026 | $673Insurance typically pays $491Sticker price $708 | Cheaper than 75% of hospitals | $491 | $708 |
| Providence St Joseph Medical Center MT · Price file April 1, 2026 | $686Insurance typically pays $1,888Sticker price $858 | Cheaper than 62% of hospitals | $1,888 | $858 |
| St Patrick Hospital MT · Price file April 1, 2026 | $741Insurance typically pays $660Sticker price $926 | Cheaper than 50% of hospitals | $660 | $926 |
| Trinity Hospital MT · Price file August 3, 2026 | $993Insurance typically pays $1,243Sticker price $1,324 | Pricier than 62% of hospitals | $1,243 | $1,324 |
| Pioneer Medical Center MT · Price file April 6, 2026 | $1,256Insurance typically pays $1,492Sticker price $1,570 | Pricier than 75% of hospitals | $1,492 | $1,570 |
| Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital MT · Price file August 27, 2026 | $1,306Insurance typically pays $1,128Sticker price $1,451 | Pricier than 88% of hospitals | $1,128 | $1,451 |
| Roundup Memorial Healthcare MT · Price file July 30, 2026 | $1,516Insurance typically pays $743Sticker price $1,516 | Highest price of any hospital | $743 | $1,516 |
Procedure code 32554. Prices are from each hospital's own published price file — see methodology.