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Injection Into The Brain's Fluid Chamber

Alabama rates for HCPCS 61026

Passes a needle through an opening already present in the skull, or through an implanted reservoir under the scalp, into the fluid-filled chamber inside the brain, and injects medicine or another substance. It delivers treatment such as chemotherapy or antibiotics straight into the spinal fluid, or places a substance used for testing. Fluid may also be withdrawn at the same time.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Injection Into The Brain's Fluid Chamber cost?

$1,853

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,853 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $155 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,698 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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$155$123 to $174
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,698$646 to $1,698

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,698 · 10th to 90th $398 to $1,698Professionalmedian $155 · 10th to 90th $102 to $182
$100$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $1,698professional $155

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
$562.34
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$2,398.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$173.78
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$1,698.24
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$181.97
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$549.54
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$181.97
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$2,511.89
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$177.83
5 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
$87.10
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$87.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$34.67
Typical High
$34.67
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$128.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$25.70
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$17.38

Where Alabama sits

The same service costs 8.1 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

Alabama· 6th of 51

$1,853

$155 physician + $1,698 facility

NY $2,852MT $352

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.