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Viral Culture Identification

New Mexico 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?

$30.20

Typical negotiated rate. In New Mexico, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $30.20 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $30.20 from a physician practice, and about $110 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$30.20$25.12 to $31.62
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$110$51.29 to $275

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $110 · 10th to 90th $30 to $339Professionalmedian $30 · 10th to 90th $25 to $63
$10$100$1K$10K$100Kfacility $110professional $30

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
$51.29
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$109.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$223.87
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$363.08
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$27.54
Typical High
$31.62
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$21.88
Typical High
$21.88
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$48.98
Typical High
$74.13
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$58.88
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$51.29
Typical High
$85.11
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$12.88
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$51.29
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$19.95
Typical High
$25.12

Where New Mexico 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.

New Mexico· 42nd of 51

$30.20

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.