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Special Stain Smear Exam For Germs

Vermont 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 Vermont, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.89 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.89 from a physician practice, and about $91.20 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 5 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$5.89$5.89 to $9.33
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$91.20$41.69 to $95.50

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $91 · 10th to 90th $5 to $102Professionalmedian $6 · 10th to 90th $6 to $9
$2$5$10$20$50$100facility $91professional $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. Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$63.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.89
Median
$5.89
Typical High
$9.33
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$41.69
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$112.20
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.61
Median
$6.61
Typical High
$6.61
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.91
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$102.33
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.89
Median
$7.59
Typical High
$9.33
MVP Health Care
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$5.37
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.37
Median
$4.37
Typical High
$4.37
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1.91
Median
$1.91
Typical High
$1.91
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.45
Median
$6.61
Typical High
$14.45

Where Vermont 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.

Vermont· 43rd 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.