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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Oregon 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?

$6.76

Typical negotiated rate. In Oregon, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6.76 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $6.76 from a physician practice, and about $8.32 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 8 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$6.76$5.37 to $9.12
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$8.32$5.37 to $23.44

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $8 · 10th to 90th $5 to $54Professionalmedian $7 · 10th to 90th $5 to $35
$5$10$20$50facility $8professional $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
$6.76
Median
$24.55
Typical High
$60.26
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.25
Median
$6.92
Typical High
$35.48
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$14.13
Typical High
$19.50
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$6.03
Typical High
$10.23
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.96
Median
$12.02
Typical High
$13.80
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$7.41
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$10.72
Pacific Source
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$10.72
Pacific Source
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$10.72
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.25
Median
$7.76
Typical High
$15.85
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$79.43
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.13
Median
$16.22
Typical High
$21.38
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$5.50
Typical High
$6.92
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.39
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$8.13
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.09
Typical High
$7.59

Where Oregon 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.

Oregon· 31st of 51

$6.76

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.