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Upper Neck Spinal Fluid Puncture with Injection

North Carolina 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?

$562

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $562 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $245 to the doctor who performs it, and $316 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$245$170 to $288
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$316$182 to $562

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $316 · 10th to 90th $110 to $1,288Professionalmedian $245 · 10th to 90th $132 to $355
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $316professional $245

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
$114.82
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$7,943.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$141.25
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$1,621.81
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$354.81
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$1,318.26
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$316.23
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$501.19
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$257.04
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$1,096.48
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$281.84
7 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
$57.54
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$69.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$22.91
Typical High
$27.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$104.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$20.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$11.48
Typical High
$13.80
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$251.19
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$173.78

Where North Carolina 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

North Carolina· 36th of 51

$562

$245 physician + $316 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.