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Cutting A Cranial Nerve At The Skull Base

Washington, DC rates for HCPCS 61460

Opens the skull at the base of the back of the head to reach the nerves emerging from the brainstem, and deliberately divides one or more of them. Cutting the nerve stops the signals it carries, which is done to relieve severe pain or uncontrollable activity that has not responded to medication. It is major neurosurgery under general anesthesia with a hospital stay.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Cutting A Cranial Nerve At The Skull Base cost?

$2,344

Typical physician fee. In Washington, DC, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,344 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $2,089 to $2,818.

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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,138 · 10th to 90th $427 to $6,310Professionalmedian $2,344 · 10th to 90th $1,995 to $5,370
$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $2,138professional $2,344

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. 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
$2,187.76
Typical High
$7,943.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$2,187.76
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,089.30
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,995.26
Median
$2,754.23
Typical High
$5,754.40
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$4,466.84
Typical High
$5,011.87
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$6,309.57
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,995.26
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$6,025.60

Where Washington, DC sits

The same service costs 12.3 times more in Alaska 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.

Washington, DC· 36th of 51

$2,344

AK $8,710TX $708

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.