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Far Lateral Approach To The Skull Base

South Dakota rates for HCPCS 61597

Creates the surgical route to reach a growth or other problem at the lower back of the skull base, close to where the brainstem meets the spinal cord. Working from behind and to the side, the surgeon removes bone including part of the joint at the top of the neck to open a path and to protect the artery running through it. Removing the lesion itself is billed separately.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Far Lateral Approach To The Skull Base cost?

$5,012

Typical facility fee. In South Dakota, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5,012 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $4,074 to $5,754.

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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $4,365 · 10th to 90th $2,818 to $6,761Professionalmedian $5,012 · 10th to 90th $3,311 to $6,026
$2.0K$5.0Kfacility $4,365professional $5,012

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,818.38
Median
$4,365.16
Typical High
$4,365.16
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,311.31
Median
$3,890.45
Typical High
$7,413.10
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5,888.44
Median
$6,309.57
Typical High
$6,456.54
Sanford Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3,311.31
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$5,754.40
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,995.26
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$1,995.26

Where South Dakota sits

The same service costs 20.9 times more in Maine than in Wyoming. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

South Dakota $5,012 · 26th of 50
ME $26,915WY $1,288

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.