Removal Of A Midline Tumor At The Skull Base

Nationwide rates for HCPCS 61521

Removes a tumor sitting in the midline at the base of the skull, in the lower rear compartment that holds the cerebellum and brainstem. A section of skull bone at the back of the head is taken out to reach it, and the tumor is separated from the surrounding brain and nerves. It is a demanding operation because of how tightly packed that area is.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Removal Of A Midline Tumor At The Skull Base cost?

$12,730

Typical total for the visit. Nationwide, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $12,730 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $4,786 to the doctor who performs it, and $7,943 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

38% physician fee62% facility fee

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 50 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the bill	Who charges it	Typical	Range
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it	The doctor who performs it	$4,786	$3,467 to $6,918
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center	The hospital or surgery center	$7,943	$3,890 to $14,125

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $7,943 · 10th to 90th $2,239 to $21,878Professionalmedian $4,786 · 10th to 90th $2,818 to $10,471

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	Facility/Professional	Modifier	Typical Low	Median	Typical High
Aetna Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $1,621.81 Median $4,786.30 Typical High $12,022.64	Facility	Global	$1,621.81	$4,786.30	$12,022.64
BCBS Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $4,677.35 Median $13,489.63 Typical High $28,183.83	Facility	Global	$4,677.35	$13,489.63	$28,183.83
Cigna Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $3,235.94 Median $8,912.51 Typical High $23,442.29	Facility	Global	$3,235.94	$8,912.51	$23,442.29
United Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $870.96 Median $3,235.94 Typical High $9,772.37	Facility	Global	$870.96	$3,235.94	$9,772.37

What it costs in each state

The same service costs 5.2 times more in Wisconsin than in Maryland. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Physician feeFacility fee

WI $22,377MD $4,291

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.