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Telescope Surgery Inside the Brain's Fluid Spaces

Minnesota 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?

$5,942

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5,942 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $3,311 to the doctor who performs it, and $2,630 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$3,311$2,570 to $4,571
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$2,630$1,380 to $4,266

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,630 · 10th to 90th $1,122 to $8,913Professionalmedian $3,311 · 10th to 90th $1,738 to $5,888
$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $2,630professional $3,311

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
$1,380.38
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$1,380.38
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$1,047.13
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$208.93
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$977.24
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$977.24
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$1,621.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$1,174.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$234.42
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$977.24
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$1,096.48
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,365.16
Median
$9,120.11
Typical High
$16,595.87
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,570.40
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$5,495.41
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$2,041.74
Median
$2,630.27
Typical High
$4,365.16
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$1,071.52
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$2,754.23
Typical High
$4,570.88
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,290.87
Median
$3,548.13
Typical High
$6,918.31
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,691.53
Median
$4,168.69
Typical High
$6,456.54
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,041.74
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$5,754.40
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,344.23
Median
$3,715.35
Typical High
$5,754.40
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$3,467.37
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$10,964.78
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$3,630.78
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$6,025.60
7 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
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$691.83
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$691.83
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$281.84
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$138.04
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$691.83
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$776.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$316.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$154.88
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
62 · Two surgeons
Typical Low
$1,584.89
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$3,311.31

Where Minnesota 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

Minnesota· 16th of 51

$5,942

$3,311 physician + $2,630 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.