Screening Papanicolaou Smear; Obtaining, Preparing And Conveyance Of Cervical Or Vaginal Smear To Laboratory in Iowa

Iowa Pricing in Context

In Iowa, CPT code Q0091 (Screening Papanicolaou Smear; Obtaining, Preparing And Conveyance Of Cervical Or Vaginal Smear To Laboratory) carries an average Medicare payment of $35.42 — 15% below the national benchmark of $41.89. 376 providers across the state submitted claims for this procedure in 2023, performing 1.3K total services. Individual payments in IA ranged from N/A at the low end to N/A at the high end, reflecting differences in provider setting (office vs. facility), modifiers, and the specific geographic locality code applied within the state.

The average billed charge in Iowa is $78.50, which is the figure uninsured patients would most likely encounter before any negotiation or charity discount. Medicare, by statute, only reimburses the allowed amount — the balance between billed and paid is written off under provider participation agreements. Insured patients generally pay a negotiated rate that falls between these two figures; the exact amount depends on plan design, deductible status, and in-network participation. Because Iowa sits below the national Medicare average, commercial rates in the state may also run lower than the US median.

Using RAND 2024 commercial-to-Medicare ratios for Temporary Codes procedures, the estimated commercial insurance price in Iowa lands near $72.62, with self-pay cash prices typically around $48.15. Before scheduling, patients can request a Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act, compare cash rates from hospital Machine-Readable Files, and confirm whether the provider is in-network with their specific plan. This page presents CMS reference data for informational use; it does not constitute medical or financial advice.