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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 October 2026.

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

$151

Typical physician fee. In Maryland, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $151 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $115 to $347.

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 $407 · 10th to 90th $275 to $1,047Professionalmedian $123 · 10th to 90th $102 to $234
$100$200$500$1Kfacility $407professional $123

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
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$117.49
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$128.82
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$741.31
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$295.12
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$204.17
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$1,047.13
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$288.40
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$177.83
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
$57.54
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$58.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$22.91
Typical High
$23.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$89.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$16.98
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$17.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$11.48
Typical High
$11.75

Where Maryland 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.

Maryland· 39th of 51

$151

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.