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Chromosome Study With Banding, Limited Cell Count

Minnesota 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?

$302

Typical negotiated rate. In Minnesota, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $302 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $263 from a physician practice, and about $389 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$263$240 to $389
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$389$263 to $891

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $389 · 10th to 90th $251 to $912Professionalmedian $263 · 10th to 90th $214 to $575
$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $389professional $263

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
$251.19
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$912.01
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$309.03
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$446.68
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$263.03
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$2,454.71
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$512.86
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$812.83
Typical High
$1,949.84
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$467.74
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$660.69
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$1,445.44
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$316.23
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$707.95
4 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
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$123.03
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$50.12
Typical High
$50.12
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$154.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$50.12
Typical High
$61.66

Where Minnesota 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.

Minnesota· 20th of 51

$302

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.