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Brain Cyst Removal Or Drainage, Upper Brain

New York 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?

$7,357

Typical total for the visit. In New York, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7,357 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,862 to the doctor who performs it, and $5,495 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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$1,862$1,622 to $2,455
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$5,495$2,089 to $10,471

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5,495 · 10th to 90th $1,202 to $14,454Professionalmedian $1,862 · 10th to 90th $1,514 to $4,074
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $5,495professional $1,862

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
$1,862.09
Median
$6,309.57
Typical High
$12,302.69
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,089.30
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$4,365.16
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,862.09
Median
$8,709.64
Typical High
$15,488.17
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$3,715.35
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
62 · Two surgeons
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$1,122.02
Typical High
$2,290.87
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$588.84
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$512.86
CDPHP
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,570.40
Median
$2,570.40
Typical High
$2,570.40
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$3,162.28
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$10,232.93
Emblem Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,089.30
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$7,585.78
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$2,398.83
Typical High
$3,981.07
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,412.54
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$2,398.83
MVP Health Care
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,862.09
Median
$4,786.30
Typical High
$87,096.36
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,511.89
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$5,011.87
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$6,165.95
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,584.89
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$6,025.60
Univera
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,659.59
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$8,317.64
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,412.54
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$2,344.23
15 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
$1,047.13
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$1,174.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$467.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,584.89
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$1,737.80
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$354.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$234.42
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$1,621.81
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$2,187.76
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$331.13
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$275.42
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$1,905.46
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$1,862.09
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$2,089.30
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$467.74
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$398.11
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$1,819.70

Where New York 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

New York· 12th of 51

$7,357

$1,862 physician + $5,495 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.