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Injection Into The Brain's Fluid Chamber

California 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 Fluid may also be withdrawn at the same time.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 July 2026.

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

$4,266

Typical facility fee. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4,266 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $2,818 to $6,310.

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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $4,365 · 10th to 90th $1,660 to $13,490Professionalmedian $129 · 10th to 90th $102 to $275
$100.0$1.0K$10.0Kfacility $4,365professional $129

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
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$5,888.44
Typical High
$17,378.01
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,511.89
Median
$4,365.16
Typical High
$12,882.50
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$3,019.95
Typical High
$6,456.54
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$549.54
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$194.98
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$309.03
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,187.76
Median
$19,498.45
Typical High
$19,498.45
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$257.04
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$2,951.21
Typical High
$7,943.28

Where California sits

The same service costs 58.9 times more in New Jersey than in West Virginia. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

California $4,266 · 3rd of 49
NJ $5,888WV $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.