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Antibiotic Effectiveness Panel For Bacteria

Maryland 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?

$6.46

Typical negotiated rate. In Maryland, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6.46 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $6.46 from a physician practice, and about $7.94 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$6.46$5.50 to $6.92
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$7.94$6.03 to $10.96

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $8 · 10th to 90th $3 to $45Professionalmedian $6 · 10th to 90th $4 to $10
$5$10$20$50facility $8professional $6

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
$6.46
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$12.59
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$9.12
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$6.92
Typical High
$7.76
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.57
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$11.22
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.57
Median
$8.91
Typical High
$20.89
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$10.00
Typical High
$16.60
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.95
Median
$2.95
Typical High
$44.67
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.89
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$7.24
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.39
Median
$8.51
Typical High
$8.51
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
$3.24
Typical High
$3.24
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$1.29
Median
$1.29
Typical High
$1.29

Where Maryland 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.

Maryland· 51st of 51

$6.46

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.