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Antibiotic Effectiveness Panel For Bacteria

Delaware 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?

$8.91

Typical negotiated rate. In Delaware, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $8.91 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $7.94 from a physician practice, and about $18.62 from a hospital or other facility.

Few insurers publish rates for this combination, so treat this figure as a rough guide.

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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$7.94$5.75 to $10.72
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$18.62$7.24 to $57.54

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $19 · 10th to 90th $7 to $58Professionalmedian $8 · 10th to 90th $5 to $16
$5$10$20$50facility $19professional $8

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
$7.24
Median
$8.91
Typical High
$22.91
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.76
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$12.02
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.62
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$16.60
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$10.00
Typical High
$51.29
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$41.69
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$57.54
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$5.25
Typical High
$12.02
1 more rate 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
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
59 · Distinct service
Typical Low
$6.46
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$6.46

Where Delaware 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.

Delaware· 28th of 51

$8.91

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.