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Telescope Surgery Inside the Brain's Fluid Spaces

Arizona 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?

$3,333

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,333 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,514 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,820 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$1,514$1,349 to $2,138
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,820$977 to $4,677

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,820 · 10th to 90th $138 to $7,586Professionalmedian $1,514 · 10th to 90th $1,259 to $10,965
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $1,820professional $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
$977.24
Median
$3,715.35
Typical High
$7,585.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$1,548.82
BCBS Arizona
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,659.59
Median
$3,981.07
Typical High
$10,232.93
BCBS Arizona
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$1,148.15
Typical High
$2,344.23
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$2,691.53
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$1,096.48
Typical High
$5,128.61
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,949.84
Typical High
$10,964.78
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$1,148.15
Typical High
$5,128.61
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,288.25
Median
$1,548.82
Typical High
$2,818.38
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
$676.08
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$676.08
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$269.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,000.00
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$1,023.29
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$204.17
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$134.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$954.99

Where Arizona 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

Arizona· 36th of 51

$3,333

$1,514 physician + $1,820 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.