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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Michigan 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 Michigan, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.37 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.13 from a physician practice, and about $6.46 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 7 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$5.13$4.47 to $6.03
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$6.46$5.13 to $15.85

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $6 · 10th to 90th $5 to $34Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $4 to $6
$1.0$2.0$5.0$10.0$20.0$50.0facility $6professional $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
$4.90
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$33.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$6.46
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$3.63
Typical High
$3.63
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$10.96
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$4.07
Typical High
$4.07
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$7.76
Health Alliance Plan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.13
Median
$5.25
Typical High
$9.33
Health Alliance Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.98
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$10.00
Priority Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$7.59
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.24
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$6.46
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$4.47
Typical High
$7.08

Where Michigan 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.

Michigan $5.37 · 46th 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.