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First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

Utah 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?

$135

Typical negotiated rate. In Utah, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $135 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $129 from a physician practice, and about $1,349 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$129$107 to $155
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,349$468 to $3,020

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,349 · 10th to 90th $151 to $4,169Professionalmedian $129 · 10th to 90th $95 to $214
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,349professional $129

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
$151.36
Median
$3,162.28
Typical High
$4,570.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$151.36
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$467.74
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$213.80
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$134.90
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$2,089.30
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$269.15
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$275.42
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$97.72
Typical High
$97.72
U of Utah Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$275.42
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$2,818.38
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$234.42
5 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
$58.88
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$75.86
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$30.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$114.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$22.91
Typical High
$22.91
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$11.75
Median
$15.14
Typical High
$15.14

Where Utah 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.

Utah· 47th of 51

$135

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.