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Drilled Hole In The Skull To Draw Off A Deep Collection

Alabama rates for HCPCS 61156

Makes a small round hole through the skull and passes a fine tube into the brain tissue to draw off a collection of blood or fluid lying within the brain itself. Removing the collection relieves pressure on the brain around it. It is a smaller operation than opening the skull to lift the collection out under direct view.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Drilled Hole In The Skull To Draw Off A Deep Collection cost?

$11,070

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $11,070 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,738 to the doctor who performs it, and $9,333 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$1,738$1,230 to $1,905
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$9,333$955 to $9,333

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $9,333 · 10th to 90th $513 to $9,333Professionalmedian $1,738 · 10th to 90th $1,096 to $1,905
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $9,333professional $1,738

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
$776.25
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$2,630.27
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,905.46
Median
$1,905.46
Typical High
$1,905.46
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9,332.54
Median
$9,332.54
Typical High
$9,332.54
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Professional
Modifier
21 + 22 · Increased work + 24 · Unrelated visit after surgery
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$1,548.82
Typical High
$1,995.26
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$1,202.26
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$1,905.46
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$371.54
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$3,801.89
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$977.24
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$1,949.84
6 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
$933.25
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$933.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$380.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,412.54
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$1,412.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$281.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$190.55
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$1,318.26

Where Alabama sits

The same service costs 8.5 times more in Maine 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

Alabama· 2nd of 51

$11,070

$1,738 physician + $9,333 facility

ME $16,489MD $1,943

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.