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First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

Connecticut 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?

$195

Typical negotiated rate. In Connecticut, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $195 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $174 from a physician practice, and about $2,692 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$174$151 to $209
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$2,692$891 to $4,786

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,692 · 10th to 90th $575 to $6,761Professionalmedian $174 · 10th to 90th $115 to $275
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $2,692professional $174

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
$3,235.94
Median
$4,570.88
Typical High
$7,943.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$190.55
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$3,162.28
Typical High
$7,762.47
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$245.47
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$831.76
Typical High
$1,479.11
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$281.84
ConnectiCare
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$223.87
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$5,888.44
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$380.19
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
$61.66
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$95.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$38.02
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$144.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$18.62
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$28.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$12.30
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$19.05

Where Connecticut 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.

Connecticut· 23rd of 51

$195

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.