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Cell Smear: Preparation, Screening And Interpretation

Utah 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?

$47.86

Typical negotiated rate. In Utah, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $47.86 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $43.65 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 $48 · 10th to 90th $31 to $112
$20$50$100professional $48

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
$47.86
Typical High
$47.86
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$21.38
Typical High
$21.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$26.92
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$147.91
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$53.70
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$12.88
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$102.33
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$97.72
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$36.31
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$67.61
U of Utah Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$48.98
Typical High
$141.25
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$41.69
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$112.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$24.55
Typical High
$38.02
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$34.67
Typical High
$77.62

Where Utah 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.

Utah· 50th of 51

$47.86

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.