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Cell Sample Smear Screening And Interpretation

California rates for HCPCS 88160

This is the laboratory screening and interpretation of cells collected on a slide from a body site other than the cervix, such as sputum, urine, or a body cavity fluid, to look for abnormal or cancerous cells. A specialist examines the sample under a microscope and provides a written interpretation. It's a cell-based evaluation, similar in concept to a Pap smear but performed on a different type of specimen.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Cell Sample Smear Screening And Interpretation cost?

$60.26

Typical negotiated rate. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $60.26 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $52.48 to $123.

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 11 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Professionalmedian $60 · 10th to 90th $44 to $295
$50$100$200$500professional $60

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
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$575.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$169.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$407.38
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$218.78
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$83.18
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$8.13
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$128.82
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$128.82
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$97.72
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$85.11
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$28.84
Median
$46.77
Typical High
$151.36
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$16.60
Typical High
$57.54
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$15.85
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$104.71
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$31.62
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$147.91
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$28.18
Typical High
$38.02
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$6.46
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$109.65
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$162.18
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$42.66
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$120.23
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$158.49
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$691.83
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$199.53
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$501.19
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$208.93
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$16.60
Typical High
$57.54
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$15.85
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$93.33
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$269.15
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$100.00
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$169.82
The Alliance
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$123.03
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$48.98
Typical High
$213.80
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$79.43
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$16.22
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$138.04

Where California sits

The same service costs 3.5 times more in Minnesota than in Utah. 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.

California· 31st of 51

$60.26

MN $170UT $47.86

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.