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Treatment Of Fluid-Producing Brain Tissue

New York rates for HCPCS 61544

An operation that opens the skull to reach the tissue inside the brain's fluid chambers that produces cerebrospinal fluid, and removes or seals it off. Reducing how much fluid is made helps control a build-up of fluid and pressure inside the head. It is major neurosurgery performed under general anesthesia with a hospital stay.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Treatment Of Fluid-Producing Brain Tissue cost?

$1,950

Typical negotiated rate. In New York, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,950 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $1,905 from a physician practice, and about $5,495 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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$1,905$1,660 to $2,455
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$5,495$2,089 to $10,471

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5,495 · 10th to 90th $1,202 to $14,454Professionalmedian $1,905 · 10th to 90th $1,549 to $4,169
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $5,495professional $1,905

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
$6,309.57
Typical High
$12,302.69
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$4,365.16
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,862.09
Median
$8,709.64
Typical High
$15,488.17
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,584.89
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$3,715.35
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$588.84
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$512.86
CDPHP
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,630.27
Median
$2,630.27
Typical High
$2,630.27
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$3,235.94
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$10,471.29
Emblem Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,089.30
Median
$3,715.35
Typical High
$7,762.47
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$4,073.80
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$2,398.83
MVP Health Care
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,862.09
Median
$5,754.40
Typical High
$87,096.36
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,454.71
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$5,011.87
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$1,737.80
Typical High
$6,165.95
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,621.81
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$6,025.60
Univera
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$7,585.78
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$2,398.83
15 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
$1,071.52
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$1,202.26
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$489.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,584.89
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$1,819.70
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$363.08
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$245.47
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$1,698.24
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$2,238.72
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$331.13
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$281.84
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$1,949.84
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$1,905.46
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,230.27
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$2,089.30
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$478.63
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$407.38
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$1,819.70

Where New York sits

The same service costs 5.9 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.

New York· 43rd of 51

$1,950

AK $7,762TX $1,318

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.