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Antibiotic Susceptibility Test, Each Drug

Maryland 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?

$3.55

Typical negotiated rate. In Maryland, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3.55 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $3.02 to $3.80.

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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3 · 10th to 90th $3 to $6Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $2 to $5
$1$2$5$10facility $3professional $4

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
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.55
Median
$3.55
Typical High
$3.98
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.39
Median
$3.80
Typical High
$4.27
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.51
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$6.17
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.51
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$12.02
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.47
Median
$5.50
Typical High
$7.08
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.02
Median
$3.02
Typical High
$3.02
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$2.75
Typical High
$3.63
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1.86
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$4.68
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
$1.78
Typical High
$1.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$0.71
Median
$0.71
Typical High
$0.71

Where Maryland 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.

Maryland· 47th of 51

$3.55

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.