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First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

Maryland 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 July 2026.

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

$117

Typical physician fee. In Maryland, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $117 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $110 to $155.

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.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $389 · 10th to 90th $389 to $427Professionalmedian $117 · 10th to 90th $100 to $295
$100$200$500facility $389professional $117

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$588.84
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$144.54
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$389.05
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$389.05
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$295.12
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$204.17
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$426.58
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$239.88
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$177.83

Where Maryland sits

The same service costs 29.5 times more in California than in Delaware. 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.

Maryland· 48th of 51

$117

CA $3,162DE $107

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.