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Tapping Brain Fluid Through An Existing Opening

Colorado rates for HCPCS 61020

A needle is passed through an opening that already exists in the skull, or through a reservoir implanted under the scalp, into the fluid-filled chambers of the brain. Fluid is drawn off to relieve raised pressure or to send for laboratory testing. Because the route is already there, no new hole has to be made.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Tapping Brain Fluid Through An Existing Opening cost?

$3,311

Typical facility fee. In Colorado, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,311 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $2,570 to $5,495.

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.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,311 · 10th to 90th $1,202 to $7,586Professionalmedian $138 · 10th to 90th $135 to $759
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $3,311professional $138

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
$1,202.26
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$7,762.47
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,454.71
Median
$3,388.44
Typical High
$8,511.38
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$223.87
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$758.58
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$204.17
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$3,890.45

Where Colorado sits

The same service costs 58.9 times more in New Jersey than in North Dakota. 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.

Colorado· 7th of 49

$3,311

NJ $5,888ND $100

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.