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Antibiotic Susceptibility Test, Each Drug

Iowa 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?

$5.75

Typical negotiated rate. In Iowa, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.75 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.79 from a physician practice, and about $8.51 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$4.79$3.72 to $9.77
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$8.51$5.75 to $12.30

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $9 · 10th to 90th $5 to $15Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $3 to $12
$5$10$20$50$100facility $9professional $5

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
$3.72
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$13.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.16
Median
$3.72
Typical High
$5.75
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.31
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$14.79
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$25.70
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.75
Median
$8.91
Typical High
$16.98
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.82
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$12.30
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.75
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$6.31
Midlands
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.75
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$5.75
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$12.02
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.82
Median
$4.17
Typical High
$6.61
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$4.79

Where Iowa 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.

Iowa· 11th of 51

$5.75

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.