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Drilled Hole In The Skull To Draw Off A Deep Collection

Virginia 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?

$5,486

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5,486 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,413 to the doctor who performs it, and $4,074 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$1,413$1,259 to $1,660
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$4,074$1,905 to $7,586

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $4,074 · 10th to 90th $1,072 to $11,482Professionalmedian $1,413 · 10th to 90th $1,175 to $2,089
$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $4,074professional $1,413

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
$1,412.54
Median
$5,495.41
Typical High
$14,125.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$1,513.56
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,884.03
Median
$7,079.46
Typical High
$12,882.50
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$1,819.70
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
62 · Two surgeons
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$891.25
Typical High
$1,148.15
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$288.40
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$251.19
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$1,819.70
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$5,495.41
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$2,137.96
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$1,698.24
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,621.81
Median
$2,041.74
Typical High
$2,041.74
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,412.54
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$2,290.87
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$1,479.11
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,023.29
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$5,888.44
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,202.26
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$3,019.95
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$6,309.57
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,023.29
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$2,398.83
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
$630.96
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$707.95
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$281.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$1,071.52
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$213.80
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$141.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$891.25
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$1,000.00

Where Virginia 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

Virginia· 12th of 51

$5,486

$1,413 physician + $4,074 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.