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Antibiotic Susceptibility Test, Each Drug

Kentucky 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?

$1.29

Typical negotiated rate. In Kentucky, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1.29 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $1.20 from a physician practice, and about $4.79 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$1.20$0.81 to $2.82
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$4.79$3.89 to $6.76

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5 · 10th to 90th $2 to $9Professionalmedian $1 · 10th to 90th $1 to $6
$1$2$5$10$20facility $5professional $1

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

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1.15
Median
$3.89
Typical High
$6.31
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1.15
Median
$3.98
Typical High
$4.79
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.95
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$5.01
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$0.76
Median
$0.83
Typical High
$2.34
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$6.76
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$5.50
Typical High
$7.76
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$10.00
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.45
Median
$22.91
Typical High
$22.91
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$0.74
Median
$2.00
Typical High
$5.25
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
$0.58
Median
$2.00
Typical High
$2.40
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$0.23
Median
$0.79
Typical High
$0.95

Where Kentucky 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.

Kentucky· 51st of 51

$1.29

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.