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Removal Of A Brain Abscess At The Back Of The Head

Missouri rates for HCPCS 61522

Opens the skull at the back of the head to reach the lower rear part of the brain, and removes a walled-off pocket of infection there. Taking out the abscess along with its capsule clears the infection and relieves the pressure it puts on surrounding brain tissue. It is major neurosurgery under general anesthesia, followed by a course of antibiotics and a hospital stay.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Removal Of A Brain Abscess At The Back Of The Head cost?

$2,951

Typical negotiated rate. In Missouri, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,951 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $2,951 from a physician practice, and about $2,692 from a hospital or other facility.

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.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$2,951$2,455 to $3,890
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$2,692$1,230 to $5,248

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,692 · 10th to 90th $525 to $10,965Professionalmedian $2,951 · 10th to 90th $2,188 to $5,754
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $2,692professional $2,951

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
$1,819.70
Median
$4,897.79
Typical High
$7,762.47
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$2,511.89
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,412.54
Median
$3,801.89
Typical High
$11,481.54
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,238.72
Median
$2,951.21
Typical High
$4,073.80
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
62 · Two surgeons
Typical Low
$1,412.54
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$2,570.40
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$645.65
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$562.34
BCBS Kansas City
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,089.30
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$3,311.31
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,290.87
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$4,786.30
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$11,220.18
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,630.27
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$15,488.17
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$2,290.87
Typical High
$10,964.78
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,398.83
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$5,888.44
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
$912.01
Median
$1,096.48
Typical High
$1,122.02
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$457.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$1,698.24
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$338.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$223.87
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,288.25
Median
$1,548.82
Typical High
$1,584.89

Where Missouri sits

The same service costs 13.5 times more in Alaska than in Texas. 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.

Missouri· 21st of 51

$2,951

AK $8,913TX $661

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.