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Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

Pennsylvania 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?

$57.54

Typical negotiated rate. In Pennsylvania, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $57.54 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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Professionalmedian $58 · 10th to 90th $41 to $117
$50$100$200$500professional $58

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
$58.88
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$58.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$102.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$19.95
Typical High
$51.29
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$74.13
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$128.82
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$61.66
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$39.81
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$85.11
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
$26.30
Median
$45.71
Typical High
$91.20
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$21.88
Typical High
$36.31
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$13.80
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$56.23
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$123.03
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$17.78
Median
$17.78
Typical High
$34.67
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$44.67
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$89.13
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$52.48
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$134.90
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$54.95
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$93.33
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$43.65
Martin's Point
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$58.88
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$58.88
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$102.33
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$15.85
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$36.31
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$69.18
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$102.33
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$79.43
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.99
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$28.18
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$34.67
Typical High
$53.70
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$120.23
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$46.77
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$77.62

Where Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania· 36th of 51

$57.54

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.