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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 October 2026.

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

$7,512

Typical total for the visit. In South Dakota, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7,512 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $6,310 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,202 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$6,310$4,467 to $7,244
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,202$759 to $3,890

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,202 · 10th to 90th $759 to $4,365Professionalmedian $6,310 · 10th to 90th $2,951 to $7,762
$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $1,202professional $6,310

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). 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
None
Typical Low
$2,818.38
Median
$2,818.38
Typical High
$4,365.16
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,290.87
Median
$2,290.87
Typical High
$2,818.38
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,981.07
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$4,897.79
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5,623.41
Median
$6,309.57
Typical High
$7,943.28
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$3,890.45
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,691.53
Median
$7,413.10
Typical High
$20,892.96
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6,309.57
Median
$6,309.57
Typical High
$6,606.93
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5,888.44
Median
$5,888.44
Typical High
$5,888.44
Sanford Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,715.35
Median
$4,897.79
Typical High
$5,754.40
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$1,202.26
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,691.53
Median
$6,760.83
Typical High
$7,762.47
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5,888.44
Median
$7,244.36
Typical High
$7,244.36

Where South Dakota sits

The same service costs 12.0 times more in Maine 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.

Physician feeFacility fee

South Dakota· 23rd of 51

$7,512

$6,310 physician + $1,202 facility

ME $36,250TX $3,015

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.