CPT 87075: Anaerobic Culture and Bacterial Identification (Nonblood)
Commercial payers pay $42 on average nationally for this procedure.
CPT code 87075 describes an anaerobic culture with identification performed by a lab analyst using material from any source except blood; the service involves culturing anaerobic organisms and identifying isolated bacteria to the least specific level (for example, genus) and is typically provided as a clinical laboratory microbiology service in hospital laboratories, clinical reference labs, or outpatient lab settings.
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National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Commercial rates for CPT 87075 center around BUCA’s average commercial benchmark of $41.80, with notable variation across major payers. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s distribution is the most dispersed (P75–P25 = $61.20), reflecting a wide spread between lower and higher allowed amounts; Aetna and Cigna show moderate dispersion (Aetna range = $4.00, Cigna range = $8.10), while UnitedHealth Group displays a relatively tight distribution (range = $5.30). These differences indicate meaningful payer-by-payer negotiation and regional variability in allowed amounts.
Examining central tendency, Blue Cross Blue Shield’s median sits well above the BUCA mean, while Cigna, Aetna, and UnitedHealth Group medians are below or near BUCA’s average, highlighting that BUCA’s $41.80 average aligns more closely with mid-to-higher commercial pricing overall. Range comparisons (largest: Blue Cross Blue Shield $61.20; smallest: Aetna $4.00) emphasize which payers exhibit the greatest and least rate dispersion for this code.