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Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

Tennessee 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 Tennessee, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $57.54 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $48.98 to $70.79.

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 $58 · 10th to 90th $38 to $138
$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
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$48.98
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$77.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$18.20
Median
$19.50
Typical High
$24.55
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$47.86
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$31.62
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$109.65
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$43.65
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$64.57
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$12.59
Typical High
$23.44
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$112.20
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$18.20
Typical High
$48.98
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$17.78
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$70.79
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$154.88
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$707.95
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$199.53
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$501.19
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$128.82
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$51.29
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$17.78
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$77.62

Where Tennessee 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.

Tennessee· 35th 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.