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Laboratory Culture of Embryos With Helper Cells

Iowa rates for HCPCS 89251

Growing eggs and early embryos in the laboratory in the days after they are collected and fertilized, using a supporting layer of cells alongside the culture fluid to help them develop. Embryologists keep them in a controlled incubator and check their progress before one is chosen for transfer or freezing. It covers the laboratory growing work only, not the egg collection or the transfer.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Laboratory Culture of Embryos With Helper Cells cost?

$794

Typical negotiated rate. In Iowa, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $794 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $794 from a physician practice, and about $1,585 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$794$676 to $1,585
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,585$794 to $2,754

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,585 · 10th to 90th $380 to $2,951Professionalmedian $794 · 10th to 90th $562 to $2,291
$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,585professional $794

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
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$2,951.21
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$794.33
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$2,238.72
Typical High
$2,818.38
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$2,290.87
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$1,148.15
Typical High
$2,818.38
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$1,148.15
Typical High
$2,570.40
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$1,096.48
Typical High
$1,548.82
Midlands
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$870.96
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$524.81
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,995.26
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$173.78

Where Iowa sits

The same service costs 3.6 times more in South Dakota than in North Dakota. 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.

Iowa· 45th of 51

$794

SD $1,995ND $550

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.