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Brain Cyst Removal Or Drainage, Upper Brain

Virginia 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?

$7,761

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7,761 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $2,138 to the doctor who performs it, and $5,623 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$2,138$1,862 to $2,512
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$5,623$2,188 to $14,454

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5,623 · 10th to 90th $1,148 to $24,547Professionalmedian $2,138 · 10th to 90th $1,738 to $3,162
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $5,623professional $2,138

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
$2,089.30
Median
$4,786.30
Typical High
$14,125.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,905.46
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$3,801.89
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6,456.54
Median
$15,488.17
Typical High
$28,840.32
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$2,754.23
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
62 · Two surgeons
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$1,737.80
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$436.52
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$380.19
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,862.09
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$2,754.23
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$5,495.41
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$3,235.94
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$2,041.74
Typical High
$2,511.89
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,398.83
Median
$3,019.95
Typical High
$3,019.95
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,089.30
Median
$2,398.83
Typical High
$3,467.37
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,238.72
Median
$2,238.72
Typical High
$2,238.72
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,288.25
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$10,232.93
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$4,570.88
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$6,309.57
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,513.56
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$3,548.13
6 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
$954.99
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$1,047.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$426.58
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,412.54
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$1,584.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$316.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$208.93
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$1,479.11

Where Virginia 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

Virginia· 10th of 51

$7,761

$2,138 physician + $5,623 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.