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Tapping Brain Fluid Through An Existing Opening

Texas 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 October 2026.

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

$1,393

Typical total for the visit. In Texas, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,393 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $105 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,288 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

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 12 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$105$79.43 to $162
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,288$646 to $2,344

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,288 · 10th to 90th $437 to $3,715Professionalmedian $105 · 10th to 90th $17 to $871
$20$100$500$2Kfacility $1,288professional $105

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
$691.83
Median
$2,290.87
Typical High
$6,918.31
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$575.44
BCBS Texas
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$3,162.28
BCBS Texas
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$169.82
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$588.84
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$1,412.54
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$213.80
Health Smart
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$467.74
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$977.24
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$5,248.07
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$177.83
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$14.13
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$109.65
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$3,801.89
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$213.80
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$389.05
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$3,235.94
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$186.21
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$97.72
Typical High
$97.72
11 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
$43.65
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$54.95
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$21.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$83.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$13.18
Median
$14.45
Typical High
$16.60
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$10.96
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
79 · Unrelated procedure after surgery
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$95.50
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$54.95
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$21.88
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$83.18
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$13.18
Median
$14.45
Typical High
$16.60
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$10.96

Where Texas sits

The same service costs 8.3 times more in New York than in Montana. 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.

Physician feeFacility fee

Texas· 14th of 51

$1,393

$105 physician + $1,288 facility

NY $2,848MT $344

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.