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Gram Stain Microscopic Exam

Montana 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?

$6.03

Typical negotiated rate. In Montana, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6.03 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.13 from a physician practice, and about $44.67 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$5.13$3.89 to $6.46
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$44.67$7.59 to $61.66

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $45 · 10th to 90th $5 to $79Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $3 to $28
$10$100$1K$10Kfacility $45professional $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
$16.60
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$81.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$28.18
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.75
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$81,283.05
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.75
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$5.75
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$7.24
Typical High
$24.55
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.88
Median
$5.01
Typical High
$6.17
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$13.18
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$13.18
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$8.32
Typical High
$24.55
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$3.80
Typical High
$6.17
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$4.27
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1.78
Median
$2.45
Typical High
$6.03

Where Montana 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.

Montana· 35th of 51

$6.03

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.