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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Missouri 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?

$7.24

Typical negotiated rate. In Missouri, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7.24 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.25 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 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$5.25$3.98 to $9.12
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$9.33$6.46 to $33.11

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $9 · 10th to 90th $5 to $51Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $3 to $14
$2.0$5.0$10.0$20.0$50.0$100.0facility $9professional $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
$4.68
Median
$9.33
Typical High
$52.48
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.57
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$17.78
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$5.37
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$19.05
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.63
Median
$5.01
Typical High
$13.80
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.23
Median
$10.96
Typical High
$12.02
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.08
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$30.90
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.88
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$13.49
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$100.00
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$6.76
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.09
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$7.24
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.98
Typical High
$7.24

Where Missouri 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.

Missouri $7.24 · 29th 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.