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Removal of a Growth in the Skull Bone

Alabama rates for HCPCS 61500

Removes a piece of skull bone containing a tumor or other abnormal growth, together with a margin of healthy bone around it. The scalp is opened, the affected bone is cut out, and the resulting gap may be repaired at the same time or at a later operation. It treats growths arising in the bone itself rather than in the brain beneath it.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Removal of a Growth in the Skull Bone cost?

$7,486

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7,486 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,862 to the doctor who performs it, and $5,623 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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$1,862$1,288 to $1,995
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$5,623$2,630 to $5,623

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5,623 · 10th to 90th $1,023 to $5,754Professionalmedian $1,862 · 10th to 90th $1,148 to $2,291
$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $5,623professional $1,862

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
$954.99
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$2,754.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,995.26
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$1,995.26
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5,623.41
Median
$5,623.41
Typical High
$5,623.41
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Professional
Modifier
21 + 22 · Increased work + 24 · Unrelated visit after surgery
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$1,949.84
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$1,202.26
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,584.89
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$2,691.53
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,513.56
Median
$3,801.89
Typical High
$7,413.10
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,023.29
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$2,089.30
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
$1,000.00
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$1,000.00
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$398.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$1,479.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$295.12
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$199.53
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$1,380.38

Where Alabama sits

The same service costs 13.5 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

Alabama· 18th of 51

$7,486

$1,862 physician + $5,623 facility

ME $34,179TX $2,531

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.