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First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

Maine 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?

$158

Typical physician fee. In Maine, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $158 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $138 to $182.

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

Professionalmedian $158 · 10th to 90th $123 to $245
$100$200professional $158

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. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$158.49
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$263.03
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$263.03
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$263.03
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$158.49
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$288.40

Where Maine 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.

Maine· 38th of 51

$158

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.