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Removal Of Infected Skull Bone

California rates for HCPCS 61501

Removes a section of skull bone that has become infected, cutting back until healthy bone is reached. The scalp is opened over the affected area so the diseased bone can be taken out and the infection cleared. The gap left in the skull is often left to heal at first and rebuilt at a later operation.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Removal Of Infected Skull Bone cost?

$10,471

Typical facility fee. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $10,471 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $7,079 to $14,454.

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 $10,965 · 10th to 90th $3,981 to $20,417Professionalmedian $1,288 · 10th to 90th $955 to $2,455
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $10,965professional $1,288

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
$3,801.89
Median
$9,549.93
Typical High
$22,908.68
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6,918.31
Median
$11,748.98
Typical High
$20,892.96
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
$1,202.26
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$1,202.26
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$1,445.44
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$977.24
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$2,454.71
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$6,918.31
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$2,454.71
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,995.26
Median
$6,165.95
Typical High
$17,378.01

Where California sits

The same service costs 25.7 times more in Maine than in West Virginia. 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.

California· 6th of 50

$10,471

ME $26,915WV $1,047

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.