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Antibiotic Susceptibility Test, Each Drug

Colorado rates for HCPCS 87181

A follow-on laboratory test once bacteria have been grown from a sample. The organism is exposed to an antibiotic mixed into the material it is growing on, to see whether that drug stops it and at what strength, with a result reported for each drug tested.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Antibiotic Susceptibility Test, Each Drug cost?

$4.79

Typical negotiated rate. In Colorado, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4.79 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $3.63 from a physician practice, and about $13.80 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$3.63$3.24 to $4.79
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$13.80$8.71 to $16.60

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $14 · 10th to 90th $4 to $22Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $3 to $8
$2$5$10$20facility $14professional $4

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
$3.63
Median
$8.32
Typical High
$21.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.02
Median
$3.63
Typical High
$6.61
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$14.13
Typical High
$21.88
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.88
Median
$3.63
Typical High
$9.77
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.82
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$14.45
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.51
Median
$3.39
Typical High
$6.92
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$9.55
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$6.92
Typical High
$10.00
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$10.00
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$4.79
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.75
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$5.75
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$2.82
Typical High
$3.80
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
$1.78
Median
$1.82
Typical High
$2.40
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$0.71
Median
$0.72
Typical High
$0.95

Where Colorado sits

The same service costs 9.1 times more in Kansas than in Kentucky. 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.

Colorado· 23rd of 51

$4.79

KS $11.75KY $1.29

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.