go back

Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Iowa 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 October 2026.

How much does Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs cost?

$5.75

Typical negotiated rate. In Iowa, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.75 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.37 from a physician practice, and about $7.41 from a hospital or other facility.

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.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$5.37$3.24 to $7.94
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$7.41$6.46 to $12.02

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $7 · 10th to 90th $5 to $14Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $3 to $13
$2$5$10$20$50$100facility $7professional $5

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.17
Median
$8.32
Typical High
$14.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.55
Median
$4.17
Typical High
$6.46
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.61
Median
$10.23
Typical High
$12.88
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$45.71
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$7.41
Typical High
$14.45
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.69
Median
$5.50
Typical High
$13.49
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.61
Median
$6.61
Typical High
$7.08
Midlands
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.61
Median
$6.61
Typical High
$6.61
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$13.80
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.09
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$6.61
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$5.37

Where Iowa sits

The same service costs 4.2 times more in Kansas than in Maryland. 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.

Iowa· 25th of 51

$5.75

KS $16.98MD $4.07

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.