go back

Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

Arizona 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?

$53.70

Typical negotiated rate. In Arizona, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $53.70 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $47.86 to $67.61.

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 $54 · 10th to 90th $41 to $100
$50$100$200$500professional $54

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
$53.70
Typical High
$87.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$56.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$57.54
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$81.28
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$18.20
Median
$18.62
Typical High
$25.70
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$56.23
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$100.00
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$24.55
Typical High
$35.48
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$66.07
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$112.20
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$64.57
Typical High
$467.74
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$186.21
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$309.03
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$48.98
Typical High
$112.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$50.12
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$77.62

Where Arizona 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.

Arizona· 42nd of 51

$53.70

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.