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Removal Of A Midline Tumor At The Skull Base

Tennessee 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?

$5,678

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5,678 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $4,266 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,413 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$4,266$3,311 to $8,913
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,413$692 to $2,692

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,413 · 10th to 90th $513 to $3,890Professionalmedian $4,266 · 10th to 90th $2,818 to $26,915
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $1,413professional $4,266

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
$2,630.27
Median
$2,818.38
Typical High
$7,585.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,818.38
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$4,073.80
BCBS Tennessee
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$3,715.35
BCBS Tennessee
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,162.28
Median
$4,168.69
Typical High
$7,413.10
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,818.38
Median
$3,630.78
Typical High
$5,888.44
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$21,877.62
Median
$21,877.62
Typical High
$26,915.35
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$3,981.07
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,884.03
Median
$4,168.69
Typical High
$6,760.83
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
$1,412.54
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$2,041.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$831.76
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$2,089.30
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$3,090.30
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$616.60
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$407.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,949.84
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$2,884.03

Where Tennessee 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

Tennessee· 34th of 51

$5,678

$4,266 physician + $1,413 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.