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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

New Hampshire 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?

$9.33

Typical negotiated rate. In New Hampshire, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $9.33 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.75 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 5 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$5.75$3.47 to $10.00
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$20.89$10.47 to $42.66

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $21 · 10th to 90th $9 to $148Professionalmedian $6 · 10th to 90th $3 to $20
$5$10$20$50$100facility $21professional $6

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
$10.47
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$154.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.13
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$23.99
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9.33
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$30.90
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.63
Median
$3.47
Typical High
$12.02
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$37.15
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.82
Median
$5.50
Typical High
$15.14
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$9.33
Typical High
$19.05
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$4.47
Typical High
$15.85

Where New Hampshire 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.

New Hampshire· 12th of 51

$9.33

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.