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Telescope Surgery Inside the Brain's Fluid Spaces

Utah 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?

$3,998

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,998 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,047 to the doctor who performs it, and $2,951 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$1,047$170 to $1,318
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$2,951$2,188 to $4,571

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,951 · 10th to 90th $575 to $13,804Professionalmedian $1,047 · 10th to 90th $141 to $1,950
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $2,951professional $1,047

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
$2,187.76
Median
$3,162.28
Typical High
$6,025.60
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$2,187.76
Typical High
$2,187.76
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$630.96
Median
$630.96
Typical High
$630.96
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,778.28
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$3,388.44
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$1,348.96
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,454.71
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$4,466.84
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3,715.35
Median
$3,715.35
Typical High
$3,715.35
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$1,318.26
U of Utah Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$2,570.40
Typical High
$5,128.61
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$2,951.21
Typical High
$13,803.84
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,445.44
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$3,162.28
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
$794.33
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$1,071.52
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$436.52
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$1,621.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$323.59
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$218.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$1,513.56

Where Utah 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

Utah· 26th of 51

$3,998

$1,047 physician + $2,951 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.