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Telescope Surgery Inside the Brain's Fluid Spaces

New York 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?

$6,762

Typical total for the visit. In New York, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6,762 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,514 to the doctor who performs it, and $5,248 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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$1,514$1,318 to $1,905
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$5,248$1,862 to $10,233

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5,248 · 10th to 90th $1,175 to $14,125Professionalmedian $1,514 · 10th to 90th $1,230 to $3,388
$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $5,248professional $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
$1,819.70
Median
$6,165.95
Typical High
$10,964.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$1,905.46
Typical High
$4,168.69
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,862.09
Median
$8,709.64
Typical High
$15,488.17
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$3,019.95
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
62 · Two surgeons
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$1,862.09
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$478.63
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$416.87
CDPHP
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,089.30
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$2,089.30
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$2,754.23
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$7,762.47
Emblem Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$5,888.44
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$3,467.37
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$1,949.84
MVP Health Care
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,513.56
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$1,513.56
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,621.81
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$3,981.07
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$6,309.57
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$2,041.74
Typical High
$4,786.30
Univera
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,348.96
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$5,248.07
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$1,949.84
15 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
$851.14
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$954.99
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$389.05
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,288.25
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$1,445.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$288.40
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$190.55
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,202.26
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$1,348.96
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,000.00
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$1,778.28
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$269.15
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$229.09
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$1,584.89
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$1,584.89
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,000.00
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$1,698.24
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$380.19
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$323.59
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$870.96
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$1,479.11

Where New York 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

New York· 12th of 51

$6,762

$1,514 physician + $5,248 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.