Price Checker / CPT 61001
How much does Remove Cranial Cavity Fluid cost?
CPT 61001 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
A fair cash price for this is roughly $160–$320.
Fair price
$160–$320
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,350
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$400
Push back above this
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About Remove Cranial Cavity Fluid
CPT code 61001 refers to remove cranial cavity fluid (billing description: "Remove cranial cavity fluid"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $106 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $106 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.