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Gram Stain Microscopic Exam

Minnesota 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?

$5.01

Typical negotiated rate. In Minnesota, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.01 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.27 from a physician practice, and about $31.62 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$4.27$4.27 to $5.89
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$31.62$11.48 to $38.90

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $32 · 10th to 90th $4 to $63Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $3 to $29
$5$10$20$50$100facility $32professional $4

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
$4.27
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$81.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.39
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$38.02
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$51.29
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.39
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$4.27
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.32
Median
$14.79
Typical High
$39.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.01
Median
$6.31
Typical High
$8.32
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9.55
Median
$13.80
Typical High
$31.62
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.01
Median
$5.01
Typical High
$8.32
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.51
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$64.57
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.45
Median
$6.61
Typical High
$32.36
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.16
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$8.51
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.14
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$9.55

Where Minnesota 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.

Minnesota· 43rd of 51

$5.01

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.