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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 October 2026.

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

$158

Typical negotiated rate. In Maine, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $158 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $158 from a physician practice, and about $708 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$158$129 to $191
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$708$537 to $832

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $708 · 10th to 90th $437 to $1,202Professionalmedian $158 · 10th to 90th $112 to $219
$100$200$500$1Kfacility $708professional $158

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). 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
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$128.82
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$218.78
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$1,412.54
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$245.47
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,202.26
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$213.80
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$128.82
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,202.26
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$218.78
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
$64.57
Median
$64.57
Typical High
$64.57
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$25.70
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$95.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$19.05
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$12.88
Median
$12.88
Typical High
$12.88

Where Maine 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.

Maine· 35th of 51

$158

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.