go back

Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

New Mexico 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?

$6.46

Typical negotiated rate. In New Mexico, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6.46 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.89 from a physician practice, and about $16.98 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$5.89$4.07 to $7.41
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$16.98$9.12 to $39.81

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $17 · 10th to 90th $6 to $100Professionalmedian $6 · 10th to 90th $4 to $35
$10$100$1K$10K$100Kfacility $17professional $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
$6.46
Median
$13.80
Typical High
$100.00
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$5.89
Typical High
$34.67
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9.77
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$57.54
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.88
Median
$4.37
Typical High
$5.13
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.47
Median
$3.47
Typical High
$3.47
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.47
Median
$7.76
Typical High
$11.48
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$9.33
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.47
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$13.18
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.04
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$8.13
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.16
Typical High
$4.07

Where New Mexico 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 Mexico· 33rd of 51

$6.46

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.