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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 July 2026.

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

$120

Typical physician fee. In Vermont, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $120 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $120 to $151.

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

Professionalmedian $120 · 10th to 90th $120 to $240
$100$200$500professional $120

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. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$120.23
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$380.19
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$457.09

Where Vermont 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.

Vermont· 46th of 51

$120

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.