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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 October 2026.

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

$4,412

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4,412 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $3,388 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,023 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$3,388$2,239 to $3,715
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,023$575 to $3,311

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,023 · 10th to 90th $380 to $7,244Professionalmedian $3,388 · 10th to 90th $1,862 to $4,467
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $1,023professional $3,388

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
$1,288.25
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$7,943.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$2,187.76
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,235.94
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$3,235.94
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,344.23
Median
$3,630.78
Typical High
$4,897.79
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$478.63
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$29,512.09
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,905.46
Median
$2,398.83
Typical High
$4,897.79
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$6,918.31
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,041.74
Median
$2,238.72
Typical High
$3,019.95
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$5,011.87
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$4,466.84
11 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
$1,047.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$426.58
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$1,584.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$316.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$208.93
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$1,479.11
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$1,000.00
Median
$1,122.02
Typical High
$2,630.27
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$1,047.13
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
81 · Minimal assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$724.44
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
82 · Assistant surgeon, no resident
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$724.44
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$724.44

Where North Carolina 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

North Carolina· 27th of 51

$4,412

$3,388 physician + $1,023 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.