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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Utah 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?

$5.89

Typical negotiated rate. In Utah, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.89 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.13 from a physician practice, and about $36.31 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$5.13$4.27 to $5.89
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$36.31$10.72 to $47.86

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $36 · 10th to 90th $6 to $135Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $4 to $7
$5$10$20$50$100$200$500facility $36professional $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
$6.76
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$134.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.98
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$6.76
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.57
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$14.79
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.45
Median
$3.63
Typical High
$10.23
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$23.99
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$4.57
Typical High
$4.79
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$3.80
Typical High
$3.80
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$7.08
U of Utah Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.79
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$8.13
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.69
Median
$3.47
Typical High
$18.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.16
Typical High
$7.59

Where Utah 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.

Utah· 42nd of 51

$5.89

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.