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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Rhode Island 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?

$6.17

Typical negotiated rate. In Rhode Island, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6.17 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.62 from a physician practice, and about $16.22 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 4 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$5.62$4.07 to $5.62
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$16.22$7.41 to $30.90

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $16 · 10th to 90th $6 to $35Professionalmedian $6 · 10th to 90th $3 to $10
$5.0$10.0$20.0facility $16professional $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
$16.22
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$42.66
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$5.62
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$6.61
Typical High
$10.96
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.02
Median
$4.07
Typical High
$8.51
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.01
Median
$12.88
Typical High
$22.39
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.98
Median
$5.89
Typical High
$8.32
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.46
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$10.72
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.09
Median
$4.47
Typical High
$10.72

Where Rhode Island 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.

Rhode Island $6.17 · 39th 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.