CPT 32556 Fee Schedule
Last Updated: August 2025
Healthcare providers use this code to document and receive reimbursement for visits that address moderate-level medical decision-making, often including multiple diagnoses or prescription management.
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Service Type | • Surgery • Surgical Procedures on the Respiratory System |
| Common Place of Service | • 21 - Inpatient Hospital • 23 - Emergency Room – Hospital |
| Common Modifiers | • None • RT - Right side of body • LT - Left side of body |
| Complexity Level | Moderate |
National average reimbursement for CPT 32556 by major payers:
$779.59
$843.18
$974.42
$1,169.41
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Use our free lookup tool to explore fee schedules and reimbursement rates for any billing code. Select a code type, then type or select a code to view its details.
Related Codes
What is a fee schedule?
A fee schedule is a list of fixed prices that healthcare providers charge for specific services, including CPT 32556. These prices vary depending on payer type (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance), geographic location, and provider contracts.
Understanding the 32556 fee schedule helps patients estimate costs and providers optimize billing for accurate reimbursements.
Factors that affect fee schedules
Medicare & Medicaid Rates
Government-set reimbursement amounts
Private Insurance Rates
Negotiated rates between providers and insurance companies
Geographic Location
Costs may be higher in urban areas.
Provider Type
Hospital providers may have different rates than private practice.
CPT 32556 vs. Other Surgical Procedures on the Respiratory System Codes
The CPT 32556 code is part of the Surgery services used for Surgical Procedures on the Respiratory System. It represents a moderate-complexity encounter and is one of several codes that vary based on time spent, level of medical decision-making, and documentation requirements.
The CPT 32556 code involves more provider time and moderate medical decision-making, unlike lower-level codes that require less time and simpler assessments. It typically includes multiple diagnoses, medication management, or test interpretation, leading to higher reimbursement and more detailed documentation requirements.
| CPT Code | Complexity Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 32554 | Moderate | Thoracentesis, Needle Or Catheter, Aspiration Of The Pleural Space; Without Imaging Guidance |
| 32555 | Moderate | Thoracentesis, Needle Or Catheter, Aspiration Of The Pleural Space; With Imaging Guidance |
| 32556 | Moderate | Removal Of Fluid From Chest Cavity With Insertion Of Indwelling Catheter, Accessed Through The Skin |
| 32556 | Moderate | Removal Of Fluid From Chest Cavity With Insertion Of Indwelling Catheter, Accessed Through The Skin |
See what providers are getting paid in 2025 for 32556:
CPT 32556 Fee Schedule & Reimbursement Rates
The CPT 32556 fee schedule varies by payer type. Below are Medicare rates for 2025 and average in-network rates by state across major payers:
| Code | Medicare Rate | Avg. BCBS National Rate | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32554 | $233.35 | $402.24 | |
| 32555 | $311.24 | $489.08 | |
| 32556 | $735.65 | $779.59 | |
| 32556 | $735.65 | $779.59 | |
| 32557 | $652.44 | $831.89 | |
| 32562 | $84.55 | $109.65 |
Reimbursement rates depend on provider contracts, region, and payer. Always verify rates with your insurance provider or medical billing department.
What is Price Transparency?
The Price Transparency Rule is a federal law that took effect in July 2022, requiring all commercial payers to publicly disclose their prices through machine-readable files (MRFs). This landmark regulation mandates that insurance companies make healthcare costs transparent to the public.
Our data comes directly from these insurer-posted MRFs, ensuring compliance with the Price Transparency Rule. While PayerPrice is working toward a future where providers and payers collaborate for 100% upfront price certainty, it's important to acknowledge that data limitations and occasional errors may exist.
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