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 October 2026.
How much does Tapping Brain Fluid Through An Existing Opening cost?
$129
Typical physician fee. In Washington, DC, October 2026.
Insurers have agreed to pay about $129 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $110 to $302.
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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.
How much rates vary
Facilitymedian $1,585 · 10th to 90th $372 to $5,129Professionalmedian $112 · 10th to 90th $100 to $1,072
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
Facility/Professional
Modifier
Typical LowTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
MedianTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Typical HighTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$4,073.80
Facility
None
$109.65
$1,862.09
$4,073.80
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$263.03
Professional
None
$109.65
$109.65
$263.03
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$1,380.38
Professional
None
$100.00
$112.20
$1,380.38
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$295.12
Professional
None
$100.00
$169.82
$295.12
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$251.19
Professional
None
$102.33
$204.17
$251.19
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$5,128.61
Facility
None
$398.11
$1,071.52
$5,128.61
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$302.00
Professional
None
$100.00
$154.88
$302.00
Where Washington, DC sits
The same service costs 9.8 times more in Oklahoma 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.