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Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

Louisiana 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?

$77.62

Typical negotiated rate. In Louisiana, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $77.62 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $63.10 to $95.50.

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 $78 · 10th to 90th $46 to $589
$50$100$200$500professional $78

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
$25.12
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$25.12
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$45.71
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$588.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$169.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$45.71
Typical High
$426.58
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$95.50
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$34.67
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$48.98
Typical High
$66.07
Christus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$23.99
Typical High
$23.99
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$123.03
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$40.74
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$75.86
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$117.49
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$15.14
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$48.98
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$72.44

Where Louisiana 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.

Louisiana· 16th of 51

$77.62

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.