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Quantitative Culture For Oxygen-Free Bacteria

Pennsylvania rates for HCPCS 87073

A laboratory culture that grows bacteria able to live without oxygen from a sample such as tissue or fluid, counts how many are present, and gives a preliminary identification. Counting the organisms helps separate a genuine infection from harmless contamination.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Quantitative Culture For Oxygen-Free Bacteria cost?

$9.12

Typical negotiated rate. In Pennsylvania, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $9.12 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $7.94 from a physician practice, and about $20.42 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$7.94$7.59 to $9.12
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$20.42$11.22 to $28.18

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $20 · 10th to 90th $8 to $56Professionalmedian $8 · 10th to 90th $7 to $17
$5$10$20$50$100$200facility $20professional $8

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.13
Median
$22.91
Typical High
$36.31
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.59
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$22.91
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$8,511.38
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.59
Median
$7.59
Typical High
$9.33
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.92
Median
$14.79
Typical High
$33.88
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.50
Median
$12.02
Typical High
$22.39
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.57
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$14.13
Geisinger
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9.55
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$9.55
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9.55
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$16.60
Martin's Point
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$36.31
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.59
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$28.18
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.47
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$165.96
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.76
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$9.77
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$11.48
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.37
Median
$7.24
Typical High
$16.60

Where Pennsylvania sits

The same service costs 2.3 times more in Vermont 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.

Pennsylvania· 36th of 51

$9.12

VT $16.60MD $7.24

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.