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Telescope Surgery Inside the Brain's Fluid Spaces

Massachusetts 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?

$4,290

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4,290 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $2,512 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,778 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$2,512$1,905 to $4,786
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,778$794 to $2,512

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,778 · 10th to 90th $407 to $4,074Professionalmedian $2,512 · 10th to 90th $1,549 to $10,715
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,778professional $2,512

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
$2,691.53
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$5,128.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$1,548.82
Typical High
$2,570.40
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$346.74
Median
$1,148.15
Typical High
$4,677.35
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,513.56
Median
$4,265.80
Typical High
$10,715.19
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,000.00
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$2,137.96
Typical High
$4,168.69
Fallon Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,621.81
Median
$2,041.74
Typical High
$3,311.31
Fallon Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$2,570.40
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$4,073.80
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$5,011.87
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$346.74
Median
$1,148.15
Typical High
$4,677.35
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,513.56
Median
$4,265.80
Typical High
$10,715.19
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$4,073.80
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$2,398.83
Typical High
$6,309.57
Well Sense
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$2,290.87
Well Sense
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$1,258.93
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
$776.25
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$2,041.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$812.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,148.15
Typical High
$3,090.30
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$616.60
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$407.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,071.52
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$2,884.03

Where Massachusetts 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

Massachusetts· 24th of 51

$4,290

$2,512 physician + $1,778 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.