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Gram Stain Microscopic Exam

Mississippi 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?

$12.88

Typical negotiated rate. In Mississippi, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $12.88 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.90 from a physician practice, and about $43.65 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 5 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$4.90$3.39 to $7.76
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$43.65$10.47 to $70.79

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $44 · 10th to 90th $5 to $78Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $3 to $9
$2$5$10$20$50$100facility $44professional $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
$7.76
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$77.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.24
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$8.71
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1.82
Median
$2.14
Typical High
$2.29
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.08
Median
$7.08
Typical High
$7.08
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$6.03
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.95
Median
$6.31
Typical High
$8.32
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1.95
Median
$4.47
Typical High
$8.71
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$5.75
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1.78
Median
$3.09
Typical High
$8.71

Where Mississippi 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.

Mississippi· 11th of 51

$12.88

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.