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Telescope Surgery Inside the Brain's Fluid Spaces

Colorado 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?

$15,421

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $15,421 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $2,239 to the doctor who performs it, and $13,183 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$2,239$1,820 to $2,951
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$13,183$2,884 to $16,596

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $13,183 · 10th to 90th $1,000 to $21,380Professionalmedian $2,239 · 10th to 90th $1,514 to $3,388
$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $13,183professional $2,239

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
$2,570.40
Median
$5,495.41
Typical High
$8,912.51
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$2,754.23
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9,772.37
Median
$15,135.61
Typical High
$25,703.96
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$3,630.78
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$4,786.30
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$2,951.21
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$1,905.46
Typical High
$3,715.35
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$3,090.30
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,479.11
Median
$2,951.21
Typical High
$3,090.30
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$2,884.03
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$7,762.47
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$3,467.37
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
$741.31
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$891.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$354.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$1,122.02
Typical High
$1,318.26
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$263.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$177.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$1,230.27

Where Colorado 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

Colorado· 2nd of 51

$15,421

$2,239 physician + $13,183 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.