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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Montana 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?

$8.71

Typical negotiated rate. In Montana, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $8.71 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $7.41 from a physician practice, and about $10.47 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$7.41$6.17 to $33.88
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$10.47$7.24 to $29.51

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $10 · 10th to 90th $7 to $141Professionalmedian $7 · 10th to 90th $5 to $35
$10.0$100.0$1.0K$10.0K$100.0Kfacility $10professional $7

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
$16.60
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$151.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.90
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$35.48
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.24
Median
$7.24
Typical High
$81,283.05
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.24
Median
$7.24
Typical High
$7.24
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$30.90
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$7.76
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$7.59
Typical High
$16.60
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$7.59
Typical High
$16.60
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$30.90
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$7.76
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$5.37
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.09
Typical High
$7.59

Where Montana 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.

Montana $8.71 · 15th 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.