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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 October 2026.

How much does Antibiotic Effectiveness Panel For Bacteria cost?

$14.45

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $14.45 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $10.00 from a physician practice, and about $39.81 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$10.00$8.71 to $17.78
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$39.81$26.30 to $66.07

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $40 · 10th to 90th $11 to $85Professionalmedian $10 · 10th to 90th $6 to $22
$5$10$20$50$100facility $40professional $10

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.76
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$18.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$6.76
Typical High
$10.23
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$13.49
Typical High
$15.85
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$89.13
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$10.00
Typical High
$21.88
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$16.22
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$53.70
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.47
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$11.22
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.46
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$63.10
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$20.89
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$7.76
Typical High
$10.47
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$5.89
Typical High
$12.02
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
$3.39
Median
$3.39
Typical High
$3.47
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$1.35
Median
$1.35
Typical High
$1.38

Where South Carolina 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.

South Carolina· 10th of 51

$14.45

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.