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First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

Massachusetts 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?

$245

Typical negotiated rate. In Massachusetts, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $245 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $195 from a physician practice, and about $417 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$195$141 to $372
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$417$178 to $1,023

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $417 · 10th to 90th $135 to $2,818Professionalmedian $195 · 10th to 90th $107 to $794
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $417professional $195

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
$1,000.00
Median
$2,238.72
Typical High
$3,630.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$316.23
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$1,949.84
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$794.33
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$758.58
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$389.05
Fallon Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$3,311.31
Fallon Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$190.55
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$4,168.69
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$467.74
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$1,949.84
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$794.33
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$4,168.69
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$467.74
Well Sense
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$269.15
Well Sense
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$95.50
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
$53.70
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$158.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$21.38
Typical High
$63.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$234.42
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$15.85
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$46.77
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$10.72
Median
$10.72
Typical High
$31.62

Where Massachusetts 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.

Massachusetts· 12th of 51

$245

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.