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Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

Colorado 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?

$63.10

Typical negotiated rate. In Colorado, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $63.10 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $53.70 to $77.62.

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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Professionalmedian $63 · 10th to 90th $41 to $129
$50$100professional $63

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
$60.26
Typical High
$77.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$15.85
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$45.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$52.48
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$138.04
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$43.65
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$95.50
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$42.66
Typical High
$128.82
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$10.72
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$43.65
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$89.13
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$123.03
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$34.67
Typical High
$34.67
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$87.10
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$213.80
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$61.66
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$52.48
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$151.36
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$48.98
Typical High
$131.83
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$23.99
Typical High
$61.66
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$83.18

Where Colorado 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.

Colorado· 29th of 51

$63.10

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.