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First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

Alaska rates for HCPCS 61000

A needle is passed through the soft spot or a suture line on a baby's skull to draw off fluid or blood that has collected between the brain and its covering. This is the first such tap, relieving pressure on the developing brain and providing a sample for testing. It is done at the bedside and takes only a few minutes.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot cost?

$513

Typical negotiated rate. In Alaska, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $513 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $468 from a physician practice, and about $977 from a hospital or other facility.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$468$288 to $468
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$977$832 to $2,344

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $977 · 10th to 90th $562 to $5,888Professionalmedian $468 · 10th to 90th $123 to $692
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $977professional $468

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$6,606.93
Typical High
$16,595.87
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$14,125.38
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$3,019.95
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$354.81
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$741.31
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$724.44
Premera BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$912.01
Typical High
$1,288.25
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$467.74
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$3,019.95
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$354.81
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$831.76
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$2,951.21
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$676.08

Where Alaska sits

The same service costs 4.4 times more in Alaska than in New York. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Alaska· 1st of 51

$513

AK $513NY $117

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.