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White Blood Cell Alkaline Phosphatase Stain

New York rates for HCPCS 85540

A blood sample is treated with a stain that reveals how much of an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase sits inside the white blood cells, and the stained cells are then scored under a microscope. The pattern helps separate different reasons for a high white blood cell count.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does White Blood Cell Alkaline Phosphatase Stain cost?

$8.51

Typical negotiated rate. In New York, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $8.51 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $7.24 from a physician practice, and about $10.00 from a hospital or other facility.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$7.24$4.27 to $11.75
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$10.00$8.51 to $19.50

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $10 · 10th to 90th $8 to $25Professionalmedian $7 · 10th to 90th $4 to $19
$5$10$20$50$100$200facility $10professional $7

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.46
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$26.30
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.46
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$7.24
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.51
Median
$8.51
Typical High
$22.39
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$6.92
Typical High
$22.91
CDPHP
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.51
Median
$8.51
Typical High
$8.51
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.32
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$93.33
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.89
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$57.54
Emblem Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.59
Median
$11.22
Typical High
$19.50
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$16.60
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.51
Median
$8.51
Typical High
$8.51
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.24
Median
$8.51
Typical High
$10.23
MVP Health Care
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.72
Median
$16.22
Typical High
$257.04
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.92
Median
$6.92
Typical High
$17.78
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$8.51
Typical High
$23.99
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$12.88
Univera
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.62
Median
$8.51
Typical High
$21.88
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.62
Median
$8.51
Typical High
$10.96
2 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$3.24
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$3.63
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$1.29
Median
$1.29
Typical High
$1.45

Where New York sits

The same service costs 4.1 times more in Kansas than in Maryland. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

New York· 28th of 51

$8.51

KS $26.30MD $6.46

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.