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Gram Stain Microscopic Exam

Arkansas rates for HCPCS 87205

This laboratory test applies a special dye to a sample and examines it under a microscope to identify the general type of bacteria, fungi, or cells present. It gives quick, preliminary information about a possible infection, often before slower culture results are available.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Gram Stain Microscopic Exam cost?

$6.76

Typical negotiated rate. In Arkansas, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6.76 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.57 from a physician practice, and about $28.84 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 7 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$4.57$3.39 to $6.61
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$28.84$6.61 to $45.71

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $29 · 10th to 90th $5 to $72Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $3 to $10
$2$5$10$20$50$100facility $29professional $5

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
$6.61
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$74.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.24
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$9.77
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$8.91
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.90
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$6.61
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$7.08
Typical High
$7.08
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.75
Median
$2.75
Typical High
$4.27
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.39
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$11.22
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.51
Median
$3.55
Typical High
$6.76
Qualchoice
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.17
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$10.23
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.75
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$5.25
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1.78
Median
$2.95
Typical High
$7.08

Where Arkansas sits

The same service costs 11.7 times more in Maryland than in Wyoming. 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.

Arkansas· 31st of 51

$6.76

MD $50.12WY $4.27

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.