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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Arkansas 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?

$8.32

Typical negotiated rate. In Arkansas, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $8.32 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.57 from a physician practice, and about $8.32 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 7 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$4.57$4.27 to $8.32
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$8.32$6.46 to $14.13

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $8 · 10th to 90th $6 to $63Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $4 to $11
$2.0$5.0$10.0$20.0$50.0$100.0$200.0facility $8professional $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
$8.32
Median
$11.22
Typical High
$66.07
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$11.22
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$8.91
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$8.32
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$8.91
Typical High
$8.91
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.47
Median
$3.47
Typical High
$5.37
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$7.24
Typical High
$14.45
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.24
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$8.71
Qualchoice
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$10.23
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.17
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$18.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.72
Typical High
$8.91

Where Arkansas 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.

Arkansas $8.32 · 17th 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.