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Chromosome Study With Banding, Limited Cell Count

Maryland 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?

$200

Typical negotiated rate. In Maryland, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $200 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $191 to $214.

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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Professionalmedian $200 · 10th to 90th $158 to $331
$200$500professional $200

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
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$199.53
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$213.80
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$758.58
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$398.11
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$478.63
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$208.93
2 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
$97.72
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$100.00
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$39.81

Where Maryland 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.

Maryland· 48th of 51

$200

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.