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Chromosome Study With Banding, Limited Cell Count

Massachusetts rates for HCPCS 88261

Grows cells from a blood or tissue sample, arrests them while their chromosomes are visible, and photographs and arranges the chromosomes so their number and structure can be checked. A stain is used that gives each chromosome a striped pattern, letting missing, extra, or rearranged pieces be spotted. This is the most limited version, examining only a small number of cells.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Chromosome Study With Banding, Limited Cell Count cost?

$380

Typical negotiated rate. In Massachusetts, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $380 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $380 from a physician practice, and about $380 from a hospital or other facility.

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.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$380$234 to $692
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$380$275 to $617

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $380 · 10th to 90th $195 to $832Professionalmedian $380 · 10th to 90th $158 to $1,549
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $380professional $380

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$794.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$794.33
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$812.83
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$1,548.82
BCBS Massachusetts
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$851.14
BCBS Massachusetts
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$251.19
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$676.08
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$1,023.29
Fallon Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$5,888.44
Fallon Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$446.68
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$691.83
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$812.83
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$1,548.82
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$316.23
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$660.69
Well Sense
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$478.63
Well Sense
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$218.78
3 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$398.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$158.49
Fallon Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
QW · Waived lab test
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$407.38

Where Massachusetts sits

The same service costs 3.4 times more in Alaska than in Florida. 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.

Massachusetts· 6th of 51

$380

AK $589FL $174

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.