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Skull Surgery For A Penetrating Brain Wound

Washington rates for HCPCS 61571

Opening the skull to treat a wound where an object has pierced through into the brain. The surgeon cleans out damaged tissue and fragments, stops bleeding, and closes the protective covering over the brain.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Skull Surgery For A Penetrating Brain Wound cost?

$1,514

Typical negotiated rate. In Washington, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,514 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $1,514 from a physician practice, and about $1,023 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 10 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$1,514$417 to $3,090
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,023$692 to $2,692

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,023 · 10th to 90th $589 to $3,890Professionalmedian $1,514 · 10th to 90th $245 to $4,467
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $1,023professional $1,514

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
$2,454.71
Median
$7,943.28
Typical High
$27,542.29
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,454.71
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$2,570.40
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$30.20
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$12,022.64
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,754.23
Median
$16,595.87
Typical High
$17,378.01
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$707.95
Median
$891.25
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,398.83
Median
$2,630.27
Typical High
$5,623.41
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,511.89
Median
$4,073.80
Typical High
$5,128.61
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$4,265.80
Pacific Source
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,884.03
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$3,981.07
Premera BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,691.53
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$2,754.23
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,754.23
Median
$2,754.23
Typical High
$2,754.23
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,754.23
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$5,495.41
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$1,584.89
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,398.83
Median
$3,388.44
Typical High
$6,309.57
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,570.40
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$3,890.45
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
$1,230.27
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$1,288.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$489.78
Typical High
$512.86
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$1,905.46
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$389.05
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$257.04
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$1,778.28

Where Washington sits

The same service costs 7.8 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.

Washington· 49th of 51

$1,514

AK $8,128TX $1,047

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.