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Removal Of A Midline Tumor At The Skull Base

Illinois 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 October 2026.

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

$6,103

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6,103 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $4,365 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,738 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$4,365$3,467 to $5,754
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,738$708 to $4,169

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,738 · 10th to 90th $513 to $16,982Professionalmedian $4,365 · 10th to 90th $3,020 to $7,413
$100$1K$10K$100Kfacility $1,738professional $4,365

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
$933.25
Median
$3,467.37
Typical High
$8,511.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,884.03
Median
$3,467.37
Typical High
$3,981.07
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$20,892.96
Median
$44,668.36
Typical High
$89,125.09
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,365.16
Median
$5,495.41
Typical High
$8,912.51
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$2,511.89
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,467.37
Median
$4,570.88
Typical High
$6,606.93
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,235.94
Median
$5,248.07
Typical High
$10,715.19
Hally Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$100.00
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,467.37
Median
$4,265.80
Typical High
$4,897.79
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$7,079.46
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,311.31
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$7,585.78
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
$1,445.44
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$1,737.80
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$691.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$2,630.27
Typical High
$2,630.27
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$524.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$346.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,995.26
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$2,454.71

Where Illinois sits

The same service costs 10.8 times more in Maine than in Washington. 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

Illinois· 33rd of 51

$6,103

$4,365 physician + $1,738 facility

ME $36,725WA $3,399

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.