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First Fluid Tap Through An Infant's Soft Spot

Vermont 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 physician fee. In Vermont, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $151 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $138 to $219.

Few insurers publish rates for this combination, so treat this figure as a rough guide.

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 3 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $708 · 10th to 90th $309 to $871Professionalmedian $148 · 10th to 90th $120 to $263
$100$200$500facility $708professional $148

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$120.23
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$870.96
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$239.88
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$707.95
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$707.95
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$263.03

Where Vermont sits

The same service costs 4.4 times more in Alaska than in Kentucky. 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.

Vermont· 38th of 51

$151

AK $513KY $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.