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Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

Illinois 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?

$66.07

Typical negotiated rate. In Illinois, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $66.07 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $53.70 to $93.33.

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 $66 · 10th to 90th $33 to $117
$50$100professional $66

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
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$67.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$104.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$21.38
Typical High
$35.48
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$64.57
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$131.83
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$134.90
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$14.45
Typical High
$40.74
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$16.22
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$95.50
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$151.36
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$87.10
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$104.71
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$117.49
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$16.22
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$100.00
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$77.62

Where Illinois 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.

Illinois· 22nd of 51

$66.07

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.