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Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

Montana 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?

$129

Typical negotiated rate. In Montana, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $129 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $100 to $138.

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 $129 · 10th to 90th $39 to $155
$50$100professional $129

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
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$128.82
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$128.82
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$41.69
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$89.13
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$154.88
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$194.98
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$56.23
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$46.77
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$134.90
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$120.23
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$15.85
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$42.66
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$74.13

Where Montana 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.

Montana· 6th of 51

$129

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.