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First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

Rhode Island 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 July 2026.

How much does First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot cost?

$129

Typical physician fee. In Rhode Island, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $129 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $107 to $174.

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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,138 · 10th to 90th $1,445 to $4,074Professionalmedian $129 · 10th to 90th $107 to $191
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $2,138professional $129

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. 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
Global
Typical Low
$1,513.56
Median
$1,548.82
Typical High
$3,981.07
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$128.82
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$223.87
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$263.03
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$4,786.30
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$229.09

Where Rhode Island sits

The same service costs 29.5 times more in California than in Delaware. 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.

Rhode Island· 44th of 51

$129

CA $3,162DE $107

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.