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Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

Kentucky 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?

$48.98

Typical negotiated rate. In Kentucky, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $48.98 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $22.39 to $60.26.

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 $49 · 10th to 90th $16 to $72
$20$50$100$200professional $49

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
$19.05
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$19.05
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$69.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$18.20
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$23.99
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$45.71
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$16.22
Median
$16.22
Typical High
$72.44
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$10.47
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$38.90
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$5.89
Median
$6.61
Typical High
$33.88
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$81.28
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$6.03
Median
$28.18
Typical High
$40.74
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$398.11
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$128.82
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$46.77
Typical High
$281.84
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$109.65
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$52.48
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$64.57

Where Kentucky 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.

Kentucky· 47th of 51

$48.98

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.