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Draining A Brain Abscess At The Back Of The Head

Kentucky rates for HCPCS 61321

Opens the skull at the back of the head to reach a pocket of infection in the lower rear part of the brain and drain the pus out of it. Emptying the collection quickly lowers the pressure it is putting on the brain and lets antibiotics work on what remains. It is done under general anesthesia and is followed by a long course of antibiotics.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Draining A Brain Abscess At The Back Of The Head cost?

$4,277

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4,277 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $2,089 to the doctor who performs it, and $2,188 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$2,089$1,905 to $2,692
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$2,188$741 to $9,550

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,188 · 10th to 90th $457 to $13,490Professionalmedian $2,089 · 10th to 90th $1,698 to $3,467
$100$1K$10Kfacility $2,188professional $2,089

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
$1,778.28
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$2,187.76
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$1,949.84
Typical High
$2,344.23
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7,244.36
Median
$10,715.19
Typical High
$19,498.45
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$2,951.21
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
62 · Two surgeons
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$1,862.09
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$467.74
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$407.38
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$3,162.28
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$2,754.23
Typical High
$3,235.94
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$3,630.78
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,041.74
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$11,481.54
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$912.01
Typical High
$8,317.64
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,041.74
Median
$2,630.27
Typical High
$3,801.89
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
$891.25
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$1,096.48
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$436.52
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$1,621.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$323.59
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$218.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$1,513.56

Where Kentucky sits

The same service costs 13.8 times more in Maine than in Texas. 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

Kentucky· 36th of 51

$4,277

$2,089 physician + $2,188 facility

ME $35,243TX $2,555

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.