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Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

South Carolina 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?

$56.23

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $56.23 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $47.86 to $56.23.

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 $56 · 10th to 90th $42 to $81
$50$100professional $56

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
$56.23
Typical High
$64.57
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$19.95
Typical High
$24.55
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$38.02
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$41.69
Median
$52.48
Typical High
$83.18
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$44.67
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$223.87
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$77.62
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$12.88
Typical High
$39.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$18.62
Typical High
$53.70
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$64.57
Typical High
$131.83
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$57.54
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$77.62

Where South Carolina 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.

South Carolina· 39th of 51

$56.23

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.