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Brain Cyst Removal Or Drainage, Upper Brain

Minnesota 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?

$7,236

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7,236 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $4,074 to the doctor who performs it, and $3,162 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$4,074$3,162 to $5,623
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$3,162$1,698 to $5,129

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,162 · 10th to 90th $1,122 to $9,772Professionalmedian $4,074 · 10th to 90th $2,138 to $7,244
$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $3,162professional $4,074

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
$1,698.24
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$1,698.24
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,288.25
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$1,288.25
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$257.04
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,202.26
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$1,202.26
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$1,949.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,288.25
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$1,445.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$288.40
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,202.26
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$1,348.96
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,365.16
Median
$10,715.19
Typical High
$20,417.38
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,090.30
Median
$4,073.80
Typical High
$6,606.93
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$2,454.71
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$5,370.32
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$616.60
Median
$812.83
Typical High
$1,318.26
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$2,630.27
Median
$3,388.44
Typical High
$5,623.41
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,818.38
Median
$4,365.16
Typical High
$8,317.64
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,311.31
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$7,943.28
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,511.89
Median
$4,073.80
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
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$3,548.13
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$4,073.80
Typical High
$15,848.93
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$3,630.78
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,089.30
Median
$3,630.78
Typical High
$7,585.78
7 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
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$851.14
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$338.84
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$169.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$954.99
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$380.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$190.55
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
62 · Two surgeons
Typical Low
$1,949.84
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$4,073.80

Where Minnesota 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

Minnesota· 13th of 51

$7,236

$4,074 physician + $3,162 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.