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Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

Washington, DC 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?

$67.61

Typical negotiated rate. In Washington, DC, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $67.61 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $56.23 to $69.18.

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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Professionalmedian $68 · 10th to 90th $49 to $69
$20$50$100$200professional $68

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
$56.23
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$69.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$20.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$37.15
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$47.86
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$75.86
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$19.05
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$48.98
Median
$48.98
Typical High
$54.95
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$42.66
Typical High
$316.23
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$11.22
Median
$14.45
Typical High
$89.13
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$17.78
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$204.17
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$190.55
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$53.70
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$138.04
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$41.69
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$186.21
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$51.29
Typical High
$125.89
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$34.67
Typical High
$134.90

Where Washington, DC 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.

Washington, DC· 20th of 51

$67.61

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.