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Brainstem Nerve Tract Sectioning Surgery

Nationwide rates for HCPCS 61480

This is a neurosurgical operation that opens the skull to reach the brainstem, where the surgeon carefully cuts specific nerve tracts to interrupt problematic nerve signals. It is a highly specialized procedure typically used to treat severe, otherwise unmanageable symptoms such as intractable pain. This is a major operation performed by a neurosurgeon, usually requiring a hospital stay for recovery.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Brainstem Nerve Tract Sectioning Surgery cost?

$12,023

Typical negotiated rate. Nationwide, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $12,023 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $13,490 from a physician practice, and about $3,631 from a hospital or other facility.

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 23 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$13,490$5,012 to $13,490
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$3,631$2,138 to $6,026

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,631 · 10th to 90th $1,047 to $10,000Professionalmedian $13,490 · 10th to 90th $1,862 to $13,490
$50$200$1K$5Kfacility $3,631professional $13,490

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
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$13,489.63
Median
$13,489.63
Typical High
$13,489.63
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$3,801.89
Typical High
$11,220.18
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$19.95
Median
$19.95
Typical High
$70.79
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$13,489.63
Median
$13,489.63
Typical High
$13,489.63
AvMed
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$4,466.84
Typical High
$13,182.57
AvMed
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,621.81
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$2,089.30
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,630.27
Median
$4,365.16
Typical High
$7,585.78
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,235.94
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$7,244.36
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$3,090.30
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,511.89
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$7,079.46
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,818.38
Median
$4,570.88
Typical High
$6,918.31
Horizon BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,344.23
Median
$4,168.69
Typical High
$12,022.64
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$7,762.47
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$13,489.63
Median
$13,489.63
Typical High
$13,489.63
MVP Health Care
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$60,255.96
Median
$60,255.96
Typical High
$87,096.36
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9,772.37
Median
$9,772.37
Typical High
$9,772.37
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$13,489.63
Median
$13,489.63
Typical High
$13,489.63
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,570.40
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$3,235.94
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$6,456.54
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,090.30
Median
$13,489.63
Typical High
$13,489.63
Medical Mutual of Ohio
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,019.95
Median
$3,019.95
Typical High
$3,235.94
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,162.28
Median
$3,162.28
Typical High
$3,162.28
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,511.89
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$3,467.37
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$60.26
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,344.23
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$2,398.83
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.96
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$3,548.13
Pacific Source
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,290.87
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$3,801.89
Priority Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6,165.95
Median
$6,165.95
Typical High
$6,165.95
1 more rate 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
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
GL · Free upgrade
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$1,819.70

What it costs in each state

The same service costs 537.0 times more in Oklahoma than in Mississippi. 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.

Touch or drag across the chart to see any state's rate.

OK $13,490MS $25.12

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.