go back

First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

Pennsylvania 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?

$151

Typical negotiated rate. In Pennsylvania, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $151 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $117 from a physician practice, and about $550 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$117$112 to $182
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$550$380 to $1,349

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $550 · 10th to 90th $295 to $3,020Professionalmedian $117 · 10th to 90th $100 to $224
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $550professional $117

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
$537.03
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$8,317.64
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$117.49
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,630.27
Median
$3,019.95
Typical High
$56,234.13
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$229.09
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$794.33
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$234.42
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$204.17
Geisinger
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$831.76
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$234.42
Martin's Point
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$7,244.36
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$114.82
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$218.78
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$933.25
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$123.03
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$2,089.30
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$229.09
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
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$57.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$21.88
Typical High
$22.91
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$87.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$16.60
Typical High
$17.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$9.55
Median
$10.96
Typical High
$11.48
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$57.54
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$21.88
Typical High
$22.91
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$81.28
Typical High
$87.10
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$16.22
Typical High
$17.38
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$9.55
Median
$10.72
Typical High
$11.48

Where Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania· 41st of 51

$151

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.