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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Georgia 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?

$6.03

Typical negotiated rate. In Georgia, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6.03 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.68 from a physician practice, and about $9.33 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 8 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$4.68$3.55 to $7.59
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$9.33$6.17 to $19.95

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $9 · 10th to 90th $5 to $81Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $3 to $12
$2.0$10.0$50.0$200.0$1.0Kfacility $9professional $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
$4.79
Median
$10.23
Typical High
$95.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.55
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$12.59
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$7.76
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.17
Median
$7.24
Typical High
$9.77
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.63
Median
$3.98
Typical High
$10.96
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$4.07
Typical High
$4.07
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.47
Median
$3.47
Typical High
$5.37
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.50
Median
$10.72
Typical High
$16.60
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.09
Median
$3.80
Typical High
$11.48
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.89
Median
$7.59
Typical High
$19.95
Oscar Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$64.57
Median
$562.34
Typical High
$562.34
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.16
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$6.61
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$7.59

Where Georgia 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.

Georgia $6.03 · 40th 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.