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Antibiotic Effectiveness Panel For Bacteria

North Carolina 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?

$25.70

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $25.70 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $8.13 from a physician practice, and about $60.26 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 8 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$8.13$6.92 to $11.48
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$60.26$27.54 to $87.10

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $60 · 10th to 90th $8 to $117Professionalmedian $8 · 10th to 90th $6 to $25
$5$10$20$50$100$200$500facility $60professional $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
$61.66
Typical High
$117.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.92
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$24.55
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.40
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$16.60
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.79
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$38.02
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.46
Median
$7.76
Typical High
$7.76
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$16.98
Typical High
$38.90
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.57
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$13.49
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.08
Median
$7.41
Typical High
$11.75
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.92
Median
$7.59
Typical High
$16.98
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.92
Median
$10.72
Typical High
$12.02
Oscar Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$19,498.45
Median
$19,498.45
Typical High
$19,498.45
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.57
Median
$11.22
Typical High
$16.22
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.37
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$12.02
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$100.00

Where North Carolina 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.

North Carolina· 8th of 51

$25.70

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.