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Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

Alaska rates for HCPCS 88161

Covers preparing a slide from loose cells collected from a site other than the cervix, screening it under the microscope, and the physician's interpretation of what is found. The cells may have been brushed, washed, scraped or drawn off from a body surface or a fluid. The report sets out whether the cells look normal, inflamed, infected or abnormal.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation cost?

$132

Typical negotiated rate. In Alaska, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $132 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $47.86 to $251.

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.

How much rates vary

Professionalmedian $132 · 10th to 90th $48 to $309
$50$100$200$500professional $132

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
$53.70
Typical High
$309.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$114.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$28.18
Typical High
$190.55
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$64.57
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$12.30
Median
$12.30
Typical High
$33.88
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$28.84
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$30.20
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$457.09
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$134.90
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$323.59
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$64.57
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$12.30
Median
$12.30
Typical High
$33.88
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$28.84
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$30.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$251.19
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$109.65
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$144.54

Where Alaska sits

The same service costs 3.5 times more in Minnesota than in Rhode Island. 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.

Alaska· 5th of 51

$132

MN $170RI $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.