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First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

Montana 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?

$182

Typical negotiated rate. In Montana, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $182 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $178 from a physician practice, and about $191 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$178$117 to $182
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$191$191 to $224

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $191 · 10th to 90th $155 to $631Professionalmedian $178 · 10th to 90th $79 to $204
$100$200$500$1Kfacility $191professional $178

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
$257.04
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$1,778.28
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$181.97
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$218.78
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$204.17
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$1,778.28
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$181.97
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$954.99
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$269.15

Where Montana 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.

Montana· 28th of 51

$182

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.