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First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

South Carolina 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?

$162

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $162 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $148 from a physician practice, and about $1,380 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$148$132 to $191
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,380$525 to $2,884

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,380 · 10th to 90th $389 to $4,266Professionalmedian $148 · 10th to 90th $107 to $251
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,380professional $148

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
$131.83
Median
$5,623.41
Typical High
$21,877.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$131.83
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$1,905.46
Typical High
$3,388.44
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$208.93
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$794.33
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$257.04
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$537.03
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$186.21
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$275.42
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$1,122.02
Typical High
$6,025.60
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$218.78
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
$54.95
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$66.07
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$26.30
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$97.72
Typical High
$97.72
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$16.22
Median
$19.50
Typical High
$19.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$10.96
Median
$13.18
Typical High
$13.18
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$100.00

Where South Carolina 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.

South Carolina· 33rd of 51

$162

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.