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Direct Test For Pneumocystis Pneumonia

Louisiana rates for HCPCS 87281

A laboratory test that looks directly for Pneumocystis, a fungus that causes serious pneumonia in people whose immune systems are weakened, in a sample of sputum or fluid washed from the lungs. Antibodies tagged with a fluorescent dye attach to the organism, making it visible under a special microscope. It gives a rapid answer because this organism cannot be grown in ordinary culture.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Direct Test For Pneumocystis Pneumonia cost?

$14.79

Typical negotiated rate. In Louisiana, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $14.79 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $11.75 from a physician practice, and about $23.44 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$11.75$7.08 to $14.13
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$23.44$15.85 to $34.67

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $23 · 10th to 90th $13 to $48Professionalmedian $12 · 10th to 90th $5 to $17
$5$10$20$50facility $23professional $12

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
$12.59
Median
$16.22
Typical High
$61.66
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$6.31
Median
$8.13
Typical High
$30.90
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$2.51
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$12.30
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$14.45
Typical High
$15.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$6.31
Median
$7.24
Typical High
$7.76
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$2.51
Median
$2.88
Typical High
$3.09
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$14.79
Median
$23.99
Typical High
$45.71
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$13.18
Typical High
$17.78
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$39.81
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$39.81
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$13.18
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$72.44
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.62
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$13.49
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.01
Median
$10.72
Typical High
$12.02
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.01
Median
$7.08
Typical High
$16.60

Where Louisiana sits

The same service costs 4.5 times more in Kansas than in New Jersey. 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.

Louisiana· 12th of 51

$14.79

KS $38.02NJ $8.51

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.