Price Checker / CPT 88160
CPT 88160 — Cytopath smear other source
2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rates and hospital pricing data
$82
What Medicare pays in a hospital/ASC setting
$82
What Medicare pays in a physician's office
$29,122
Based on 5 hospital(s) in our database
What do these numbers mean?
The Medicare rateis what the federal government determines is a fair payment for this procedure. It's based on the Relative Value Unit (RVU) system, which accounts for physician work, practice expense, and malpractice cost. Hospitals and providers often charge 3-20x this amount. If your bill is significantly higher than the Medicare rate, you may have grounds to negotiate.
Hospital Charges for CPT 88160
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Muir Health Concord Medical Center , CA | $39,354 | $17,709 | 48187% |
| John Muir Health Walnut Creek Medical Center , CA | $39,354 | $17,709 | 48187% |
| John Muir Health Behavioral Health Center , CA | $38,233 | $17,205 | 46811% |
| City of Hope National Medical Center , CA | $28,525 | $14,263 | 34900% |
| Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Center , NJ | $145 | — | 78% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
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About CPT 88160
CPT code 88160 refers to “Cytopath smear other source”. Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, this procedure is reimbursed at $82 in a facility (hospital or ambulatory surgery center) and $82in a non-facility (physician's office) setting.
These rates are set by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and represent what the government considers a fair payment for this service. While commercial insurance typically pays somewhat more than Medicare, many hospitals charge significantly higher amounts — sometimes 10-50x the Medicare rate.
What to do if you were overcharged
- Upload your bill— we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- Get a dispute letter— citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- Negotiate or let us handle it — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.