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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Alaska rates for HCPCS 87206

A sample from the body is spread on a slide and treated with a special fluorescent or acid-fast stain, then examined under a microscope to look for certain bacteria, fungi, or parasites that are hard to see with routine staining, including the type of bacteria that causes tuberculosis. A specialist reports back on what, if anything, is seen. It gives a fast, same-day clue about a possible infection while slower culture results are still pending.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs cost?

$6.31

Typical negotiated rate. In Alaska, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6.31 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $12.02 from a physician practice, and about $4.90 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$12.02$6.31 to $18.20
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$4.90$4.90 to $21.38

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5 · 10th to 90th $5 to $79Professionalmedian $12 · 10th to 90th $5 to $21
$5.0$10.0$20.0$50.0$100.0$200.0facility $5professional $12

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
$38.02
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$141.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.90
Median
$18.20
Typical High
$35.48
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.79
Median
$14.79
Typical High
$14.79
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.98
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$7.76
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.90
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$5.37
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$17.38
Premera BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$19.95
Typical High
$34.67
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$12.02
Typical High
$26.30
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.90
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$4.90
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.98
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$6.92
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.39
Median
$7.59
Typical High
$70.79

Where Alaska sits

The same service costs 12.0 times more in West Virginia than in Kentucky. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Alaska $6.31 · 37th of 51
WV $60.26KY $5.01

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.