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Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

Alabama 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?

$51.29

Typical negotiated rate. In Alabama, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $51.29 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $45.71 to $83.18.

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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Professionalmedian $51 · 10th to 90th $41 to $83
$50$100professional $51

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
$40.74
Median
$51.29
Typical High
$83.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$26.30
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$57.54
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$61.66
Typical High
$72.44
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$29.51
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$36.31
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$42.66
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$61.66
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$13.49
Typical High
$41.69
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$32.36
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$42.66
Typical High
$72.44
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$15.14
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$28.84
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$43.65

Where Alabama 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.

Alabama· 45th of 51

$51.29

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.