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Removal of a Growth in the Skull Bone

California 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 July 2026.

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

$12,589

Typical facility fee. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $12,589 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $8,710 to $17,378.

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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $12,882 · 10th to 90th $4,571 to $22,909Professionalmedian $1,445 · 10th to 90th $1,047 to $2,754
$100.0$1.0K$10.0K$100.0Kfacility $12,882professional $1,445

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4,897.79
Median
$10,471.29
Typical High
$23,442.29
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8,511.38
Median
$13,803.84
Typical High
$23,988.33
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$6,606.93
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$1,380.38
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$1,698.24
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$2,951.21
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$7,943.28
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$794.33
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$2,951.21
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7,244.36
Median
$13,803.84
Typical High
$28,840.32

Where California sits

The same service costs 21.4 times more in Maine than in North Dakota. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

California $12,589 · 6th of 50
ME $26,915ND $1,259

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.