CPT 88342: Initial Single Antibody Stain with Interpretation
Medicare pays $77 and commercial payers pay $105 on average nationally for this procedure.
CPT code 88342 describes a pathology service where a laboratory analyst applies an initial single antibody immunohistochemical stain to slide(s) prepared from a single patient specimen (for example, tumor tissue) and a qualified provider interprets the stained slide(s) to render a pathologic diagnosis; service type: immunohistochemistry staining with professional interpretation; typical site of service: hospital or independent pathology laboratory (anatomic pathology setting).
For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Onychomycosis diagnostic testing and coverage, Topical Acne-Non-Retinoid Products, Dermatology - Vtama Drug Quantity Management Policy - Per Days.
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National Reimbursement Benchmarks
National averages place Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna above Medicare for CPT 88342, with BUCA’s mean ($104.90) roughly 37% higher than Medicare’s mean ($76.60). UnitedHealth Group ($70.90) and Cigna ($75.80) sit nearer to Medicare, while Aetna ($111.50) and Blue Cross Blue Shield ($119.00) pull the commercial mean upward; BUCA’s mean aligns with the higher-commercial tier but remains slightly below Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Dispersion measured by the interquartile range (P75–P25) is widest for Aetna at $91.70, indicating more variability in negotiated commercial rates, followed by Blue Cross Blue Shield with a $55.80 IQR. UnitedHealth Group ($50.00) and Cigna ($67.20) show moderate dispersion. BUCA’s IQR is $63.30 and Medicare’s IQR is $73.00; Aetna is the most dispersed and Blue Cross Blue Shield is also relatively wide, while UnitedHealth Group is the tightest among payers with full quartile data.