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Drilled Hole In The Skull To Draw Off A Deep Collection

South Carolina 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?

$2,230

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,230 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,230 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,000 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$1,230$275 to $1,660
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,000$603 to $4,074

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,000 · 10th to 90th $437 to $8,511Professionalmedian $1,230 · 10th to 90th $178 to $2,042
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $1,000professional $1,230

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
$1,445.44
Median
$9,120.11
Typical High
$22,908.68
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,202.26
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$1,445.44
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$2,238.72
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$1,905.46
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$2,691.53
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,000.00
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$3,388.44
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$2,754.23
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$2,041.74
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$8,709.64
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$2,454.71
11 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
$602.56
Median
$724.44
Typical High
$724.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$288.40
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$912.01
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$1,071.52
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$213.80
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$144.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$1,000.00
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$1,380.38
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$549.54
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
81 · Minimal assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$389.05
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
82 · Assistant surgeon, no resident
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$389.05
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$389.05

Where South Carolina 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

South Carolina· 45th of 51

$2,230

$1,230 physician + $1,000 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.