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Antibiotic Effectiveness Panel For Bacteria

Colorado 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 October 2026.

How much does Antibiotic Effectiveness Panel For Bacteria cost?

$9.33

Typical negotiated rate. In Colorado, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $9.33 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $6.61 from a physician practice, and about $24.55 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$6.61$5.89 to $8.71
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$24.55$15.14 to $30.20

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $25 · 10th to 90th $7 to $40Professionalmedian $7 · 10th to 90th $5 to $15
$5$10$20$50facility $25professional $7

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
$6.61
Median
$15.14
Typical High
$30.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$7.08
Typical High
$12.02
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9.77
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$39.81
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.25
Median
$6.61
Typical High
$17.78
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.01
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$26.30
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.57
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$12.30
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.61
Median
$9.33
Typical High
$17.38
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.92
Median
$12.30
Typical High
$22.39
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$18.20
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$8.71
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.47
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$10.47
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$6.46
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
$3.24
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$4.37
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$1.29
Median
$1.32
Typical High
$1.74

Where Colorado sits

The same service costs 13.2 times more in Vermont than in Maryland. 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· 27th of 51

$9.33

VT $85.11MD $6.46

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.