go back

First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

Minnesota 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?

$257

Typical negotiated rate. In Minnesota, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $257 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $245 from a physician practice, and about $407 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$245$191 to $339
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$407$186 to $955

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $407 · 10th to 90th $105 to $2,042Professionalmedian $245 · 10th to 90th $132 to $437
$100$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $407professional $245

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
$104.71
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$104.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$125.89
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$2,630.27
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$407.38
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$512.86
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$478.63
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$426.58
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$426.58
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$2,570.40
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$794.33
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$3,162.28
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$457.09
10 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
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$51.29
Median
$51.29
Typical High
$51.29
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$20.89
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$77.62
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$15.49
Typical High
$15.49
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$10.47
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$10.47
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$51.29
Median
$51.29
Typical High
$57.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$22.91
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$87.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$15.49
Typical High
$17.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$10.47
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$11.48

Where Minnesota 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.

Minnesota· 10th of 51

$257

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.