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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Indiana 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?

$5.37

Typical negotiated rate. In Indiana, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.37 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.47 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 6 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$4.47$3.72 to $4.79
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$9.33$5.37 to $21.88

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $9 · 10th to 90th $5 to $83Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $3 to $6
$2.0$5.0$10.0$20.0$50.0$100.0facility $9professional $4

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
$19.95
Typical High
$89.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$4.47
Typical High
$5.89
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.24
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$3.63
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$16.22
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.51
Median
$2.63
Typical High
$5.37
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.76
Median
$6.76
Typical High
$6.76
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.47
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$6.17
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$12.02
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.39
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$14.45
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$6.46
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$4.17
Typical High
$6.03

Where Indiana 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.

Indiana $5.37 · 47th 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.