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First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

North Dakota 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?

$224

Typical negotiated rate. In North Dakota, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $224 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $224 from a physician practice, and about $347 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$224$195 to $263
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$347$107 to $617

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $347 · 10th to 90th $107 to $759Professionalmedian $224 · 10th to 90th $117 to $288
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $347professional $224

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
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$1,995.26
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$112.20
BCBS North Dakota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$295.12
BCBS North Dakota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
22 · Increased work
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$354.81
BCBS North Dakota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$208.93
BCBS North Dakota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$223.87
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$204.17
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$346.74
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$758.58
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$229.09
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$758.58
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$245.47

Where North Dakota 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.

North Dakota· 18th of 51

$224

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.