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Viral Culture Identification

Montana 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 July 2026.

How much does Viral Culture Identification cost?

$42.66

Typical negotiated rate. In Montana, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $42.66 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $40.74 from a physician practice, and about $53.70 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$40.74$33.88 to $47.86
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$53.70$45.71 to $102

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $54 · 10th to 90th $43 to $141Professionalmedian $41 · 10th to 90th $30 to $129
$100$1K$10K$100Kfacility $54professional $41

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
$53.70
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$141.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$223.87
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$45.71
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$81,283.05
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$45.71
Median
$45.71
Typical High
$45.71
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$48.98
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$194.98
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$48.98
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$104.71
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$104.71
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$48.98
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$194.98
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$48.98
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$33.88
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$19.50
Typical High
$46.77

Where Montana sits

The same service costs 3.0 times more in Alaska than in Washington, DC. 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.

Montana· 9th of 51

$42.66

AK $75.86DC $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.