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Brain Cyst Removal Or Drainage, Upper Brain

Colorado rates for HCPCS 61516

Opens the skull to reach a fluid-filled cyst in the upper part of the brain and either takes it out or cuts a lasting opening in its wall so the fluid drains into the surrounding spaces. Relieving the cyst takes pressure off the brain tissue around it. The opening may be a small drilled hole, a piece of bone taken out and left out, or a bone flap lifted and put back at the end.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Brain Cyst Removal Or Drainage, Upper Brain cost?

$15,937

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $15,937 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $2,754 to the doctor who performs it, and $13,183 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$2,754$2,239 to $3,548
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$13,183$2,884 to $16,596

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $13,183 · 10th to 90th $1,000 to $21,380Professionalmedian $2,754 · 10th to 90th $1,862 to $4,169
$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $13,183professional $2,754

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
$2,570.40
Median
$5,495.41
Typical High
$8,912.51
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$2,691.53
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9,772.37
Median
$15,135.61
Typical High
$25,703.96
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$3,019.95
Typical High
$4,466.84
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$4,786.30
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,905.46
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$3,630.78
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$4,466.84
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$3,801.89
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$3,801.89
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$3,467.37
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$7,762.47
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,089.30
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$4,265.80
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
$912.01
Median
$912.01
Typical High
$1,096.48
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$436.52
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$1,621.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$323.59
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$218.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$1,513.56

Where Colorado sits

The same service costs 13.4 times more in Maine than in Maryland. 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

Colorado· 3rd of 51

$15,937

$2,754 physician + $13,183 facility

ME $34,930MD $2,604

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.