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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Nevada 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?

$5.62

Typical negotiated rate. In Nevada, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.62 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.13 from a physician practice, and about $7.24 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$5.13$4.17 to $6.46
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$7.24$5.01 to $28.84

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $7 · 10th to 90th $4 to $41Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $4 to $34
$0.1$1.0$10.0$100.0facility $7professional $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
$4.17
Median
$8.91
Typical High
$40.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$33.88
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$3.31
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1.74
Median
$4.57
Typical High
$12.88
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.63
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$4.17
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$6.31
Typical High
$16.22
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.98
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$7.76
Hometown Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$0.08
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$8.71
Hometown Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1.86
Median
$1.86
Typical High
$1.86
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$5.37
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.76
Median
$6.76
Typical High
$6.76
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1.91
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$5.89
Typical High
$30.90

Where Nevada 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.

Nevada $5.62 · 45th 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.