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Antibiotic Effectiveness Panel For Bacteria

Kentucky 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?

$8.91

Typical negotiated rate. In Kentucky, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $8.91 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $7.59 from a physician practice, and about $69.18 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 6 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$7.59$6.46 to $8.71
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$69.18$20.89 to $162

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $69 · 10th to 90th $9 to $240Professionalmedian $8 · 10th to 90th $4 to $12
$5$10$20$50$100$200facility $69professional $8

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
$70.79
Typical High
$239.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.01
Median
$7.59
Typical High
$12.30
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.37
Median
$5.25
Typical High
$12.88
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.41
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$9.12
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$12.02
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$12.02
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$14.13
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.76
Median
$16.60
Typical High
$20.42
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.47
Median
$51.29
Typical High
$51.29
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.89
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$32.36
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$7.24
Typical High
$12.02

Where Kentucky 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.

Kentucky· 46th of 51

$8.91

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.