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Brain Cyst Removal Or Drainage, Upper Brain

North Carolina 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 July 2026.

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

$2,884

Typical facility fee. In North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,884 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $1,820 to $6,457.

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.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,884 · 10th to 90th $1,660 to $7,586
$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $2,884

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
$1,659.59
Median
$6,025.60
Typical High
$8,709.64
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$2,398.83
Typical High
$3,715.35
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,288.25
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$7,079.46
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$11,481.54
Typical High
$11,481.54

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 20.9 times more in Maine than in Wyoming. 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.

North Carolina· 38th of 50

$2,884

ME $26,915WY $1,288

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.