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Burr Holes In The Skull, Back Of The Head

Washington rates for HCPCS 61253

Drills one or more small round openings through the skull at the back of the head, below the level of the brain's main lobes, over the cerebellum and the brainstem region. Through them the surgeon can inspect, take a sample, or let out blood or fluid. It may be the whole operation or the opening step of a larger one, and may be done on one or both sides.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Burr Holes In The Skull, Back Of The Head cost?

$1,862

Typical negotiated rate. In Washington, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,862 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $1,778 from a physician practice, and about $2,042 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

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 10 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$1,778$1,230 to $2,291
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$2,042$1,585 to $2,512

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,042 · 10th to 90th $1,230 to $11,220Professionalmedian $1,778 · 10th to 90th $776 to $2,754
$100.0$1.0K$10.0Kfacility $2,042professional $1,778

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$18,620.87
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$2,754.23
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$2,570.40
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$2,951.21
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$2,454.71
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,000.00
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$2,511.89
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$64.57
Pacific Source
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$1,905.46
Typical High
$1,905.46
Premera BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$1,380.38
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$2,951.21
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$2,570.40
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$707.95
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$5,754.40
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,023.29
Median
$1,548.82
Typical High
$2,884.03
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$2,041.74

Where Washington sits

The same service costs 7.4 times more in California than in Vermont. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Washington $1,862 · 13th of 51
CA $6,918VT $933

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.