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Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

New Jersey 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?

$53.70

Typical negotiated rate. In New Jersey, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $53.70 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $42.66 to $67.61.

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 $54 · 10th to 90th $36 to $102
$50$100professional $54

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
$40.74
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$67.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$23.99
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$34.67
Typical High
$45.71
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$112.20
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$13.18
Median
$24.55
Typical High
$43.65
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$17.78
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$77.62
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$123.03
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$17.78
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$34.67
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$44.67
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$89.13
Horizon BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$120.23
Horizon BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$16.98
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$46.77
Horizon BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$93.33
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$100.00
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$18.20
Typical High
$35.48
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$64.57

Where New Jersey 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.

New Jersey· 43rd of 51

$53.70

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.