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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Colorado 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?

$7.76

Typical negotiated rate. In Colorado, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7.76 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.57 from a physician practice, and about $23.44 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$4.07 to $5.25
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$23.44$10.00 to $148

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $23 · 10th to 90th $5 to $251Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $3 to $6
$2.0$5.0$10.0$20.0$50.0$100.0$200.0facility $23professional $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
$5.25
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$338.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$4.57
Typical High
$6.17
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.76
Median
$16.22
Typical High
$27.54
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.63
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$5.37
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.16
Median
$3.80
Typical High
$14.45
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.82
Median
$3.55
Typical High
$6.46
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$5.89
Typical High
$11.22
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.59
Median
$64.57
Typical High
$64.57
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.62
Median
$10.00
Typical High
$11.22
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$3.80
Typical High
$5.37
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$8.13
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.16
Typical High
$5.13

Where Colorado 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.

Colorado $7.76 · 22nd 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.