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Telescope Surgery Inside the Brain's Fluid Spaces

Arkansas rates for HCPCS 62161

A narrow telescope is passed through a small opening in the skull into the fluid-filled chambers inside the brain, so the surgeon can divide scar bands and open windows between chambers or into a cyst. This lets trapped fluid flow freely again and relieves the pressure it has been causing. A drainage tube may be placed, replaced, or taken out during the same procedure.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Telescope Surgery Inside the Brain's Fluid Spaces cost?

$2,333

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,333 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,820 to the doctor who performs it, and $513 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 3 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$1,820$1,479 to $2,692
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$513$427 to $1,122

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $513 · 10th to 90th $302 to $1,995Professionalmedian $1,820 · 10th to 90th $1,288 to $3,090
$500$1K$2Kfacility $513professional $1,820

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
$1,071.52
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$2,454.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,659.59
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$1,819.70
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$1,023.29
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$3,019.95
Typical High
$3,235.94
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$1,995.26
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,288.25
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$3,090.30
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
$831.76
Median
$891.25
Typical High
$891.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$363.08
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$1,348.96
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$269.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$181.97
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$1,258.93

Where Arkansas sits

The same service costs 15.5 times more in Maine than in Maryland. 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

Arkansas· 48th of 51

$2,333

$1,820 physician + $513 facility

ME $34,449MD $2,222

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.