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Upper Neck Spinal Fluid Puncture with Injection

Louisiana 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?

$604

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $604 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $178 to the doctor who performs it, and $427 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$178$135 to $191
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$427$186 to $708

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $427 · 10th to 90th $162 to $1,202Professionalmedian $178 · 10th to 90th $117 to $229
$100$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $427professional $178

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
$380.19
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$3,467.37
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$204.17
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$758.58
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$190.55
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$39.81
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$39.81
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$676.08
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$213.80
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$1,202.26
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$251.19
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
$81.28
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$100.00
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$39.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$151.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$27.54
Typical High
$30.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$16.22
Median
$18.20
Typical High
$19.95

Where Louisiana 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

Louisiana· 32nd of 51

$604

$178 physician + $427 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.