Price Checker / CPT 61070
How much does Brain Canal Shunt Procedure cost?
CPT 61070 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 42x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$75–$150
What this should cost
With insurance
~$70,200
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$190
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $4,560 is $4,450 over the fair price (about 42x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Brain Canal Shunt Procedure
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE SOUTHEAST Pasadena, TX | — | — | 22256% |
| "St. John's Hospital Camarillo" SPRINGFIELD, CA | — | — | 15126% |
| SOUTHERN HILLS HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER Las Vegas, NV | — | — | 12460% |
| Inova Alexandria Hospital ALEXANDRIA, VA | $5,371 | $2,686 | 10341% |
| Inova Fair Oaks Hospital FAIRFAX, VA | $5,371 | $2,686 | 10341% |
| Inova Fairfax Hospital FALLS CHURCH, VA | $5,371 | $2,686 | 10341% |
| Inova Loudoun Hospital LEESBURG, VA | $5,371 | $2,686 | 10341% |
| Inova Mount Vernon Hospital ALEXANDRIA, VA | $5,371 | $2,686 | 10341% |
| 62-1113167 BMH Tipton , TN | — | — | 9080% |
| UPMC Magee , PA | $4,627 | $3,702 | 8895% |
| Benson Hospital BENSON, AZ | — | — | 7568% |
| UPMC Mercy PITTSBURGH, PA | $3,113 | $2,490 | 5952% |
| UPMC Childrens , PA | $3,093 | $2,474 | 5913% |
| University Hospitals Conneaut Medical Center CONNEAUT, OH | — | — | 4852% |
| Perry County Memorial Hospital TELL CITY, IN | $1,371 | $960 | 2565% |
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 Brain Canal Shunt Procedure
CPT code 61070 refers to brain canal shunt procedure (billing description: "Brain canal shunt procedure"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $51 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $51 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.