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Brain Cyst Removal Or Drainage, Upper Brain

Pennsylvania 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?

$2,700

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,700 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,905 to the doctor who performs it, and $794 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$1,905$1,778 to $2,344
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$794$479 to $2,291

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $794 · 10th to 90th $240 to $6,310Professionalmedian $1,905 · 10th to 90th $1,622 to $3,236
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $794professional $1,905

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
$831.76
Median
$4,897.79
Typical High
$8,511.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,621.81
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$1,905.46
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$1,348.96
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,981.07
Median
$28,183.83
Typical High
$56,234.13
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,951.21
Median
$2,951.21
Typical High
$56,234.13
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$2,290.87
Typical High
$2,818.38
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$2,290.87
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$3,801.89
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,884.03
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$3,311.31
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$2,290.87
Typical High
$3,890.45
Martin's Point
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$831.76
Median
$3,801.89
Typical High
$8,709.64
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,621.81
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$1,905.46
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$1,348.96
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.96
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$3,630.78
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$2,187.76
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$2,187.76
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$562.34
Typical High
$4,265.80
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,905.46
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$3,801.89
10 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
$794.33
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$954.99
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$380.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,202.26
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$1,445.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$288.40
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$190.55
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$954.99
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$380.19
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,202.26
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$1,445.44
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$288.40
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$190.55

Where Pennsylvania 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

Pennsylvania· 49th of 51

$2,700

$1,905 physician + $794 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.