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First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

Colorado 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?

$229

Typical negotiated rate. In Colorado, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $229 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $170 from a physician practice, and about $2,512 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$170$135 to $219
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$2,512$1,148 to $3,548

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,512 · 10th to 90th $525 to $5,370Professionalmedian $170 · 10th to 90th $115 to $269
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $2,512professional $170

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

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$3,388.44
Typical High
$8,709.64
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$5,495.41
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$5,370.32
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$269.15
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$1,659.59
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$223.87
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$275.42
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$229.09
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$645.65
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$213.80
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$2,951.21
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$257.04
5 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$66.07
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$21.88
Typical High
$26.30
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$97.72
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$16.60
Median
$16.60
Typical High
$19.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$10.96
Median
$10.96
Typical High
$13.18

Where Colorado 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.

Colorado· 15th of 51

$229

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.