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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Minnesota 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 Minnesota, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.37 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.37 from a physician practice, and about $20.89 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$5.37$5.13 to $6.17
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$20.89$8.51 to $44.67

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $21 · 10th to 90th $5 to $65Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $4 to $12
$2.0$5.0$10.0$20.0$50.0$100.0facility $21professional $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
$5.13
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$125.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$64.57
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$51.29
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$5.37
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.47
Median
$18.20
Typical High
$50.12
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.31
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$10.47
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$16.98
Typical High
$39.81
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$10.23
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.08
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$64.57
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.75
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$61.66
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.69
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$12.02

Where Minnesota 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.

Minnesota $5.37 · 49th 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.