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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Tennessee 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?

$5.37

Typical negotiated rate. In Tennessee, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.37 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.27 from a physician practice, and about $26.92 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 6 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$4.27$4.07 to $5.37
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$26.92$7.76 to $51.29

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $27 · 10th to 90th $4 to $68Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $4 to $6
$1.0$5.0$20.0$100.0facility $27professional $4

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
$4.27
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$67.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.07
Median
$4.17
Typical High
$6.17
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.69
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$12.30
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$6.31
Typical High
$6.31
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$21.88
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.40
Median
$4.17
Typical High
$8.32
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$100.00
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$5.37
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.80
Typical High
$7.59

Where Tennessee 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.

Tennessee $5.37 · 48th 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.