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First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

New York 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?

$117

Typical negotiated rate. In New York, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $117 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $112 from a physician practice, and about $2,754 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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$112$100 to $151
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$2,754$1,096 to $3,981

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,754 · 10th to 90th $525 to $5,248Professionalmedian $112 · 10th to 90th $91 to $251
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $2,754professional $112

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
$1,513.56
Median
$4,570.88
Typical High
$10,471.29
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$426.58
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$3,162.28
Typical High
$4,897.79
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$218.78
CDPHP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$4,073.80
CDPHP
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$154.88
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$478.63
Median
$891.25
Typical High
$1,584.89
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$660.69
Emblem Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$446.68
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$239.88
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$144.54
MVP Health Care
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$60,255.96
Typical High
$87,096.36
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$309.03
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$4,897.79
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$363.08
Univera
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$537.03
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$144.54
6 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
$63.10
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$72.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$28.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$109.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$21.88
Typical High
$21.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$14.45
Typical High
$14.45
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$112.20

Where New York 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.

New York· 51st of 51

$117

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.