go back

Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Maryland 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?

$35.48

Typical negotiated rate. In Maryland, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $35.48 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.90 from a physician practice, and about $56.23 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$4.90$3.98 to $6.61
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$56.23$43.65 to $61.66

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $56 · 10th to 90th $8 to $68Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $3 to $34
$5$10$20$50facility $56professional $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
$32.36
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$67.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.98
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$34.67
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1.91
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$5.25
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.88
Median
$3.72
Typical High
$6.92
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.02
Median
$5.50
Typical High
$12.88
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$10.47
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.47
Typical High
$18.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.45
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$5.13
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.09
Median
$3.72
Typical High
$8.13

Where Maryland 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.

Maryland· 2nd of 51

$35.48

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.