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Antibiotic Effectiveness Panel For Bacteria

California rates for HCPCS 87186

After bacteria from an infection are grown in the laboratory, this test exposes them to a panel of different antibiotics at varying strengths to determine which drugs are strong enough to stop them from growing. The result helps a clinician choose an antibiotic that is likely to work rather than one the bacteria can resist. It is typically ordered after a culture has already identified the type of bacteria present.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Antibiotic Effectiveness Panel For Bacteria cost?

$21.38

Typical negotiated rate. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $21.38 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $10.23 from a physician practice, and about $60.26 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 14 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$10.23$7.41 to $19.50
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$60.26$25.12 to $170

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $60 · 10th to 90th $13 to $245Professionalmedian $10 · 10th to 90th $6 to $56
$10.0$100.0$1.0Kfacility $60professional $10

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
$18.62
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$269.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.61
Median
$10.23
Typical High
$57.54
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.88
Median
$5.25
Typical High
$7.76
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.01
Median
$21.88
Typical High
$43.65
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$7.24
Typical High
$24.55
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$64.57
Typical High
$120.23
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.92
Median
$9.77
Typical High
$24.55
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.61
Median
$15.14
Typical High
$31.62
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.25
Median
$10.00
Typical High
$21.38
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.59
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$13.80
HealthNet
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$38.02
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.92
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$19.50
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$100.00
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.41
Median
$10.72
Typical High
$52.48
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.25
Median
$5.25
Typical High
$10.47
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.24
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$24.55
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.25
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$21.38
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$30.20
The Alliance
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.92
Median
$8.91
Typical High
$14.79
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$6.31
Typical High
$32.36
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$5.25
Typical High
$26.30

Where California sits

The same service costs 10.5 times more in West Virginia than in New Mexico. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

California $21.38 · 15th of 51
WV $83.18NM $7.94

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.