go back

Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

New Mexico 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?

$64.57

Typical negotiated rate. In New Mexico, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $64.57 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $47.86 to $83.18.

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 $65 · 10th to 90th $23 to $112
$20$50$100$200$500professional $65

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
$47.86
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$83.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$29.51
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$53.70
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$100.00
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$100.00
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$39.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$31.62
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$58.88
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$81.28
Typical High
$218.78
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$39.81
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$43.65
Typical High
$58.88
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$131.83
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$50.12
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$18.20
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$83.18

Where New Mexico 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 Mexico· 23rd of 51

$64.57

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.