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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Kansas 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?

$6.31

Typical negotiated rate. In Kansas, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6.31 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.68 from a physician practice, and about $16.98 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$4.68$4.68 to $5.89
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$16.98$9.33 to $30.90

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $17 · 10th to 90th $5 to $76Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $4 to $10
$2.0$5.0$10.0$20.0$50.0$100.0facility $17professional $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
$5.75
Median
$16.22
Typical High
$85.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$5.89
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$3.72
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$30.90
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$10.00
Typical High
$10.00
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$12.30
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.51
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$22.91
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$21.38
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.98
Typical High
$8.71
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.24
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$7.59
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$4.37
Typical High
$9.55

Where Kansas 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.

Kansas $6.31 · 36th 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.