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Upper Neck Spinal Fluid Puncture with Injection

Illinois rates for HCPCS 61055

This procedure inserts a needle near the base of the skull or the top of the neck to reach the fluid-filled space surrounding the spinal cord, followed by an injection that may be a contrast dye to support imaging or a medication given for treatment. It provides an alternative access point when a standard lower-back spinal puncture is not suitable.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Upper Neck Spinal Fluid Puncture with Injection cost?

$595

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $595 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $158 to the doctor who performs it, and $437 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$158$126 to $200
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$437$282 to $1,000

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $437 · 10th to 90th $182 to $2,344Professionalmedian $158 · 10th to 90th $117 to $269
$50$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $437professional $158

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
$338.84
Median
$1,548.82
Typical High
$5,623.41
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$162.18
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$1,513.56
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$190.55
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$537.03
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$245.47
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$562.34
Hally Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$100.00
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$158.49
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$1,819.70
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$288.40
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
$51.29
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$61.66
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$23.99
Typical High
$25.12
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$93.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$17.78
Typical High
$18.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$10.23
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$12.30

Where Illinois sits

The same service costs 8.9 times more in New York than in Maryland. 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

Illinois· 34th of 51

$595

$158 physician + $437 facility

NY $2,750MD $308

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.