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Skull Decompression With Removal Of Brain Tissue

Iowa rates for HCPCS 61323

Removes a section of skull and takes out part of a lobe of the brain to bring down dangerously high pressure inside the head, opening or patching the brain's covering as needed. Taking away a portion of already damaged tissue gives the swollen brain room to expand and protects the rest from being crushed. Any blood clot lying inside the brain tissue is left in place and is not dealt with in this operation.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Skull Decompression With Removal Of Brain Tissue cost?

$8,149

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $8,149 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $5,129 to the doctor who performs it, and $3,020 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$5,129$3,311 to $5,754
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$3,020$1,514 to $5,370

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,020 · 10th to 90th $603 to $6,918Professionalmedian $5,129 · 10th to 90th $2,570 to $7,079
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $3,020professional $5,129

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
$3,235.94
Median
$5,888.44
Typical High
$7,943.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,041.74
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$3,235.94
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5,011.87
Median
$5,370.32
Typical High
$6,606.93
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,187.76
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$6,309.57
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$3,388.44
Typical High
$6,606.93
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,754.23
Median
$5,248.07
Typical High
$16,982.44
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5,248.07
Median
$5,370.32
Typical High
$6,606.93
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,570.88
Median
$6,456.54
Typical High
$7,413.10
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$6,918.31
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,454.71
Median
$3,801.89
Typical High
$7,244.36
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,570.88
Median
$4,570.88
Typical High
$5,370.32

Where Iowa sits

The same service costs 13.1 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

Iowa· 14th of 51

$8,149

$5,129 physician + $3,020 facility

ME $35,671TX $2,727

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.