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Gram Stain Microscopic Exam

Tennessee 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?

$5.75

Typical negotiated rate. In Tennessee, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.75 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $3.39 from a physician practice, and about $34.67 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$3.39$3.24 to $4.68
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$34.67$15.49 to $47.86

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $35 · 10th to 90th $4 to $74Professionalmedian $3 · 10th to 90th $3 to $6
$2$5$10$20$50$100$200facility $35professional $3

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
$5.75
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$74.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.24
Median
$3.39
Typical High
$6.46
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.14
Median
$2.14
Typical High
$11.22
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$5.75
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.95
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$18.20
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1.95
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$6.76
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$100.00
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$9.55
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1.78
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$4.27
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1.78
Median
$3.16
Typical High
$6.03

Where Tennessee 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.

Tennessee· 38th of 51

$5.75

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.