go back

Urine Culture With Bacteria Identification

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 87088

A urine sample is grown in the laboratory to allow any bacteria present to multiply, and each type of bacteria found is then identified. This goes a step further than simply counting colonies, telling the clinician which specific type or types of bacteria are causing a suspected urinary tract infection.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Urine Culture With Bacteria Identification cost?

$10.72

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $10.72 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $7.76 from a physician practice, and about $40.74 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 7 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$7.76$6.92 to $10.47
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$40.74$21.38 to $66.07

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $41 · 10th to 90th $8 to $93Professionalmedian $8 · 10th to 90th $6 to $23
$5$10$20$50$100$200facility $41professional $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
$8.91
Median
$43.65
Typical High
$93.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.46
Median
$7.76
Typical High
$22.91
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$20.42
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$16.98
Median
$34.67
Typical High
$34.67
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$7.24
Typical High
$7.41
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.62
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$37.15
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.17
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$12.30
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.76
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$15.85
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.46
Median
$7.08
Typical High
$15.85
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$6.03
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.17
Median
$10.72
Typical High
$15.14
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$11.22
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$100.00

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 12.6 times more in West Virginia than in Washington, DC. 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.

North Carolina· 13th of 51

$10.72

WV $75.86DC $6.03

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.