go back

Viral Culture Identification

Kansas rates for HCPCS 87255

This is a laboratory test that attempts to grow a virus from a patient sample in living cells, then identifies it using methods other than watching for the visible changes it causes to those cells. It is one way to confirm a viral infection, though it has largely been supplemented by faster molecular tests in many settings.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Viral Culture Identification cost?

$51.29

Typical negotiated rate. In Kansas, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $51.29 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $33.88 from a physician practice, and about $53.70 from a hospital or other facility.

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.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$33.88$20.42 to $47.86
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$53.70$51.29 to $75.86

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $54 · 10th to 90th $44 to $81Professionalmedian $34 · 10th to 90th $20 to $69
$20$50$100facility $54professional $34

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$93.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$35.48
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$23.44
BCBS Kansas
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$51.29
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$81.28
BCBS Kansas
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$47.86
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$43.65
Typical High
$77.62
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$70.79
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$91.20
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$63.10
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$33.88
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$70.79
2 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$16.98
Typical High
$17.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$5.75
Median
$6.76
Typical High
$7.24

Where Kansas sits

The same service costs 3.7 times more in Alaska than in Maryland. 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.

Kansas· 4th of 51

$51.29

AK $93.33MD $25.12

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.