Cell examination of body fluid, smears
Medicare pricing data for 2,903 providers across 48 states
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
Cell examination of body fluid, smears (HCPCS code 88104) is a medical procedure billed to Medicare. The average Medicare-allowed cost is $31.72, but hospitals typically charge $122.76 — a 3.9x 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 $31.72, your out-of-pocket cost would be approximately $6.34. 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 3.9x more than what Medicare allows for this procedure. Medicare actually pays $24.64 on average.
Cost by State
Medicare-allowed amounts vary significantly by state
| State | Allowed Cost | Hospital Charge | Providers | Services | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | $48 | $54 | 15 | 89 | +49.8% |
| New York | $47 | $164 | 188 | 2,856 | +46.7% |
| New Jersey | $46 | $181 | 92 | 916 | +45.8% |
| Texas | $41 | $150 | 249 | 2,197 | +29.6% |
| Georgia | $36 | $91 | 59 | 468 | +14.7% |
| Maryland | $32 | $100 | 66 | 1,430 | +1.8% |
| California | $32 | $123 | 414 | 4,911 | +0.4% |
| Connecticut | $31 | $112 | 38 | 275 | -1.4% |
| Nevada | $30 | $127 | 39 | 187 | -5.0% |
| Tennessee | $29 | $124 | 77 | 896 | -7.5% |
| Minnesota | $29 | $109 | 41 | 314 | -7.8% |
| District of Columbia | $29 | $291 | 6 | 58 | -8.1% |
| Washington | $29 | $81 | 28 | 413 | -9.1% |
| Ohio | $29 | $106 | 121 | 1,328 | -9.8% |
| North Carolina | $28 | $105 | 70 | 408 | -10.3% |
| New Hampshire | $28 | $158 | 7 | 26 | -11.6% |
| Massachusetts | $28 | $121 | 85 | 1,349 | -12.4% |
| Florida | $28 | $123 | 209 | 1,736 | -13.3% |
| Delaware | $27 | $120 | 7 | 25 | -13.7% |
| Hawaii | $27 | $78 | 16 | 40 | -13.8% |
| North Dakota | $27 | $128 | 8 | 98 | -13.8% |
| Pennsylvania | $27 | $114 | 125 | 1,065 | -15.3% |
| Colorado | $27 | $102 | 23 | 241 | -15.7% |
| Montana | $27 | $72 | 10 | 54 | -16.0% |
| Nebraska | $27 | $102 | 8 | 31 | -16.1% |
| Illinois | $27 | $138 | 135 | 1,014 | -16.1% |
| Michigan | $26 | $77 | 76 | 1,098 | -16.9% |
| Maine | $26 | $87 | 17 | 242 | -17.0% |
| Oregon | $26 | $75 | 9 | 21 | -17.2% |
| Arizona | $26 | $99 | 27 | 687 | -17.2% |
| Vermont | $26 | $136 | 6 | 63 | -17.3% |
| Oklahoma | $26 | $83 | 19 | 299 | -17.6% |
| New Mexico | $26 | $85 | 5 | 18 | -17.6% |
| Kansas | $26 | $103 | 31 | 197 | -18.2% |
| Virginia | $26 | $130 | 48 | 181 | -18.2% |
| Wisconsin | $26 | $273 | 52 | 617 | -18.2% |
| Utah | $26 | $110 | 11 | 58 | -18.9% |
| Mississippi | $26 | $112 | 19 | 117 | -18.9% |
| Alabama | $26 | $80 | 61 | 1,324 | -19.3% |
| South Carolina | $26 | $80 | 42 | 472 | -19.3% |
| Louisiana | $26 | $95 | 42 | 219 | -19.5% |
| West Virginia | $25 | $133 | 14 | 160 | -19.6% |
| Iowa | $25 | $89 | 27 | 332 | -19.9% |
| Idaho | $25 | $217 | 7 | 23 | -19.9% |
| Indiana | $25 | $108 | 54 | 576 | -19.9% |
| Missouri | $25 | $109 | 62 | 699 | -19.9% |
| Kentucky | $25 | $90 | 34 | 270 | -20.0% |
| Arkansas | $25 | $56 | 29 | 194 | -21.4% |
⚠️ 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