CPT 87003 Fee Schedule
Last Updated: August 2025
Healthcare providers use this code to document and receive reimbursement for visits that address moderate-level medical decision-making, often including multiple diagnoses or prescription management.
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Service Type | • Pathology and Laboratory Procedures • Microbiology Procedures |
| Common Place of Service | • 81 - Independent Laboratory • 20 - Urgent Care Facility • 11 - Office |
| Common Modifiers | • None • QW - CLIA Waived Tests • TC - Technical component: Under certain circumstances a charge may be made for the technical component alone. Under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier TC to the usual procedure code number. This modifier must be reported in the first modifier field |
| Complexity Level | Moderate |
National average reimbursement for CPT 87003 by major payers:
$17.18
$12.28
$18.63
$24.96
Find Fee Schedule & Reimbursement for Other Codes
Use our free lookup tool to explore fee schedules and reimbursement rates for any billing code. Select a code type, then type or select a code to view its details.
Related Codes
What is a fee schedule?
A fee schedule is a list of fixed prices that healthcare providers charge for specific services, including CPT 87003. These prices vary depending on payer type (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance), geographic location, and provider contracts.
Understanding the 87003 fee schedule helps patients estimate costs and providers optimize billing for accurate reimbursements.
Factors that affect fee schedules
Medicare & Medicaid Rates
Government-set reimbursement amounts
Private Insurance Rates
Negotiated rates between providers and insurance companies
Geographic Location
Costs may be higher in urban areas.
Provider Type
Hospital providers may have different rates than private practice.
CPT 87003 vs. Other Microbiology Procedures Codes
The CPT 87003 code is part of the Pathology and Laboratory Procedures services used for Microbiology Procedures. It represents a moderate-complexity encounter and is one of several codes that vary based on time spent, level of medical decision-making, and documentation requirements.
The CPT 87003 code involves more provider time and moderate medical decision-making, unlike lower-level codes that require less time and simpler assessments. It typically includes multiple diagnoses, medication management, or test interpretation, leading to higher reimbursement and more detailed documentation requirements.
| CPT Code | Complexity Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 87003 | Low | Anim Inocul,Sml Anim;W Observ/Dis |
| 87015 | Low | Concent,For Parasites,Ova,Tb,Afb |
| 87040 | Low | Culture Bacterial; Blood Aerobic With Isolation And Presumptive Identification Of Isolates (Includes Anaerobic Culture If Appropriate) (Rvsd 1/1/04) |
| 87045 | Low | Culturre, Bacterial, Definitive; Stool, Aerobic, With Isolation And Preliminary Examination, (Eg, Kia, Lia), Salmonella And Shigella Species |
See what providers are getting paid in 2025 for 87003:
CPT 87003 Fee Schedule & Reimbursement Rates
The CPT 87003 fee schedule varies by payer type. Below are Medicare rates for 2025 and average in-network rates by state across major payers:
| Code | Medicare Rate | Avg. BCBS National Rate | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87003 | $17.18 | ||
| 87015 | $6.69 | ||
| 87040 | $10.13 | ||
| 87045 | $9.21 | ||
| 87046 | $9.24 | ||
| 87070 | $8.29 |
Reimbursement rates depend on provider contracts, region, and payer. Always verify rates with your insurance provider or medical billing department.
What is Price Transparency?
The Price Transparency Rule is a federal law that took effect in July 2022, requiring all commercial payers to publicly disclose their prices through machine-readable files (MRFs). This landmark regulation mandates that insurance companies make healthcare costs transparent to the public.
Our data comes directly from these insurer-posted MRFs, ensuring compliance with the Price Transparency Rule. While PayerPrice is working toward a future where providers and payers collaborate for 100% upfront price certainty, it's important to acknowledge that data limitations and occasional errors may exist.
Unlock access to price transparency insights today
First Name
Last Name
Role / Title
Company
How did you hear about us?
PayerPrice needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy.