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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 July 2026.

How much does Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs cost?

$8.32

Typical negotiated rate. In Iowa, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $8.32 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $7.08 from a physician practice, and about $14.13 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$7.08$4.57 to $33.11
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$14.13$8.13 to $38.90

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $14 · 10th to 90th $5 to $78Professionalmedian $7 · 10th to 90th $4 to $35
$2$5$10$20$50$100facility $14professional $7

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
$5.37
Median
$14.79
Typical High
$83.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.17
Median
$7.08
Typical High
$35.48
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.46
Median
$10.23
Typical High
$12.88
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$52.48
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$6.92
Typical High
$14.45
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.04
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$13.18
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.61
Median
$7.08
Typical High
$7.08
Midlands
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.61
Median
$6.61
Typical High
$6.61
Oscar Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$38.90
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$12.30
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$10.96
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$5.37

Where Iowa sits

The same service costs 12.0 times more in West Virginia than in Kentucky. 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· 16th of 51

$8.32

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.