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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 July 2026.

How much does Antibiotic Effectiveness Panel For Bacteria cost?

$18.20

Typical negotiated rate. In Colorado, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $18.20 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $7.41 from a physician practice, and about $48.98 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 7 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$7.41$6.61 to $8.13
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$48.98$20.89 to $151

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $49 · 10th to 90th $9 to $331Professionalmedian $7 · 10th to 90th $5 to $10
$5$10$20$50$100$200$500facility $49professional $7

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
$8.71
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$363.08
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$7.59
Typical High
$9.55
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.72
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$43.65
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$8.71
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.01
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$22.91
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.57
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$10.47
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.61
Median
$9.33
Typical High
$17.78
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$12.30
Typical High
$81.28
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9.12
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$18.20
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$8.71
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.46
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$12.88
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$8.13

Where Colorado sits

The same service costs 10.5 times more in West Virginia than in New Mexico. 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· 23rd of 51

$18.20

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.