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Facial Approach To The Front Skull Base

Minnesota rates for HCPCS 61581

The exposure stage of a skull-base operation, in which a surgeon opens a path through the face and the front floor of the skull so that a growth can be reached. It is a wide exposure that can include removing the contents of the eye socket and part of the upper jaw, and it stops short of removing the growth itself, which is a separate part of the operation.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Facial Approach To The Front Skull Base cost?

$9,779

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $9,779 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $5,888 to the doctor who performs it, and $3,890 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$5,888$4,365 to $8,511
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$3,890$2,344 to $6,761

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,890 · 10th to 90th $1,122 to $10,965Professionalmedian $5,888 · 10th to 90th $2,818 to $11,220
$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $3,890professional $5,888

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
$2,630.27
Typical High
$2,630.27
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,995.26
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$1,995.26
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$398.11
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,862.09
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$1,862.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,630.27
Median
$2,630.27
Typical High
$2,884.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,995.26
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$2,187.76
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$436.52
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,862.09
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$2,041.74
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,238.72
Median
$6,025.60
Typical High
$21,379.62
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,981.07
Median
$5,370.32
Typical High
$9,549.93
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$3,235.94
Median
$4,365.16
Typical High
$7,762.47
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$1,096.48
Typical High
$1,905.46
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$3,388.44
Median
$4,570.88
Typical High
$8,128.31
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,365.16
Median
$6,760.83
Typical High
$12,882.50
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5,128.61
Median
$7,762.47
Typical High
$12,302.69
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,890.45
Median
$6,309.57
Typical High
$10,964.78
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,365.16
Median
$7,079.46
Typical High
$10,715.19
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$5,248.07
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,019.95
Median
$5,888.44
Typical High
$19,952.62
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$3,630.78
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,019.95
Median
$5,495.41
Typical High
$11,220.18
9 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
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$1,318.26
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$524.81
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$263.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$1,445.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$575.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$288.40
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$3,311.31
Median
$6,165.95
Typical High
$11,481.54
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$6,025.60
Median
$8,128.31
Typical High
$14,454.40
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
62 · Two surgeons
Typical Low
$2,511.89
Median
$3,388.44
Typical High
$5,888.44

Where Minnesota sits

The same service costs 12.3 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

Minnesota· 12th of 51

$9,779

$5,888 physician + $3,890 facility

ME $36,075WA $2,929

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.