CPT 87086: urine culture (bacteria colony count). What Medicare pays and what to ask
A urine culture confirms a urinary infection and often comes with a urinalysis. Here is what 87086 covers and the Medicare lab rate.
What this code means
CPT 87086 is a urine culture with a count of bacteria colonies, used to confirm a urinary tract infection.
It is often billed with a urinalysis (81003).
Why the bill can be much higher than the Medicare rate
If bacteria are found and identified, further codes can be added for identification and for testing which antibiotics work.
The Medicare lab rate is small, so large multiples on hospital bills are common.
| If a line is billed at | It would be |
|---|---|
| 5x the Medicare rate | $40.35 |
| 10x the Medicare rate | $80.70 |
| 20x the Medicare rate | $161.40 |
The Medicare rate is a published benchmark, not a legal ceiling on what a provider may charge. Our free scan flags a line as worth a closer look when it is billed at more than 10 times the Medicare rate.
Questions worth asking before you pay
- Which additional lab codes were billed with the culture?
- Was the urine test repeated on the same day?
- Was the culture ordered by my doctor?
Check every line against the official Medicare rates in about a minute. The scan is free.
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Source: Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CMS, 2026), national payment limit. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rates change each year and a hospital bill can include charges that the benchmark does not cover.