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Antibiotic Effectiveness Panel For Bacteria

South 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?

$70.79

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $70.79 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $7.08 from a physician practice, and about $85.11 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$7.08$6.76 to $12.30
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$85.11$39.81 to $174

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $85 · 10th to 90th $13 to $240Professionalmedian $7 · 10th to 90th $7 to $58
$5$10$20$50$100$200$500facility $85professional $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
$13.80
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$239.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.76
Median
$6.92
Typical High
$72.44
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$15.85
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$93.33
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.91
Median
$11.48
Typical High
$18.20
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$16.22
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$70.79
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.47
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$12.30
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.76
Median
$10.00
Typical High
$19.95
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$10.47
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$5.89
Typical High
$12.02

Where South 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.

South Carolina· 2nd of 51

$70.79

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.