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Brain Electrode Strip Placed Through Burr Holes

Massachusetts rates for HCPCS 61531

Placement of a strip of recording electrodes onto the surface of the brain through small holes drilled in the skull, rather than by lifting out a section of bone. The electrodes stay in place for days so that seizures can be recorded and their starting point identified. The wires are led out through the scalp and connected to a recorder.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Brain Electrode Strip Placed Through Burr Holes cost?

$1,950

Typical negotiated rate. In Massachusetts, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,950 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $2,042 from a physician practice, and about $1,479 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$2,042$1,549 to $3,890
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,479$1,023 to $2,042

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,479 · 10th to 90th $617 to $3,802Professionalmedian $2,042 · 10th to 90th $1,259 to $9,550
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,479professional $2,042

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
$2,691.53
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$5,128.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$3,235.94
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$4,073.80
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$3,467.37
Typical High
$9,549.93
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$1,380.38
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$3,311.31
Fallon Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$3,311.31
Fallon Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$2,137.96
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$5,128.61
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$4,073.80
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$4,073.80
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$3,467.37
Typical High
$9,549.93
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$5,128.61
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$1,949.84
Typical High
$5,128.61
Well Sense
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$912.01
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$1,862.09
Well Sense
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$1,000.00
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
$616.60
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$1,621.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$645.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$2,454.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$489.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$323.59
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$2,290.87

Where Massachusetts sits

The same service costs 5.6 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.

Massachusetts· 16th of 51

$1,950

AK $5,012TX $891

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.