Bacterial culture and colony count
Medicare pricing data for 288 providers across 15 states
This procedure has a 5.0x markup — hospitals charge $48.51 but Medicare allows only $9.68. Uninsured patients may face bills 5.0 times higher than what insurance negotiates. This is a specialized procedure with relatively few Medicare claims. Pricing data may be less reliable due to smaller sample sizes. Note: These costs reflect the Medicare physician/supplier component. Hospital facility fees are billed separately and can be 2-5x the physician fee.
💡 What You Should Know
Bacterial culture and colony count (HCPCS code 87071) is a medical procedure billed to Medicare. The average Medicare-allowed cost is $9.68, but hospitals typically charge $48.51 — a 5.0x markup. Prices vary significantly by state and provider.
🏷️ Typical Out-of-Pocket Cost
Medicare patients typically pay about 20% of the allowed amount as coinsurance. Based on the average allowed cost of $9.68, your out-of-pocket cost would be approximately $1.94. Actual costs depend on your specific plan, deductible, and whether you've met your annual out-of-pocket maximum.
What Hospitals Charge vs. What Medicare Pays
Hospitals charge 5.0x more than what Medicare allows for this procedure. Medicare actually pays $9.68 on average.
Cost by State
Medicare-allowed amounts vary significantly by state
| State | Allowed Cost | Hospital Charge | Providers | Services | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $10 | $26 | 3 | 356 | +0.1% |
| Missouri | $10 | $60 | 2 | 21 | +0.1% |
| Pennsylvania | $10 | $12 | 3 | 638 | +0.1% |
| Puerto Rico | $10 | $12 | 20 | 44 | +0.1% |
| Alabama | $10 | $14 | 2 | 392 | +0.1% |
| Connecticut | $10 | $14 | 8 | 89 | +0.1% |
| New Jersey | $10 | $102 | 6 | 981 | 0.0% |
| New York | $10 | $25 | 149 | 562 | 0.0% |
| Texas | $10 | $53 | 8 | 1,454 | 0.0% |
| California | $10 | $61 | 23 | 2,026 | 0.0% |
| Iowa | $10 | $40 | 4 | 286 | -0.1% |
| Florida | $10 | $34 | 4 | 1,292 | -0.2% |
| Minnesota | $10 | $56 | 35 | 135 | -0.5% |
| Illinois | $10 | $20 | 4 | 107 | -0.6% |
| Georgia | $9 | $38 | 2 | 19 | -4.4% |
⚠️ Important: These costs reflect the Medicare physician/supplier component. Hospital facility fees may be billed separately. Total out-of-pocket costs may be higher.
💊 Need post-procedure medications? Check costs on OpenPrescriber