Price Checker / CPT 61576
How much does Skull Base/brainstem Surgery cost?
CPT 61576 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is in line with what this normally costs. No need to dispute.
Fair price
$7,100–$8,350
What this should cost
With insurance
~$3,650
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$10,400
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $8,218 is $468 over the fair price.
What hospitals charge for Skull Base/brainstem Surgery
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital Novi, MI | — | — | 183% |
| Community Memorial Hospital - Burke Burke, SD | — | — | 61% |
| Henry Ford Rochester Hospital Rochester, MI | — | — | 45% |
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 Skull Base/brainstem Surgery
CPT code 61576 refers to skull base/brainstem surgery (billing description: "Skull base/brainstem surgery"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $4,194 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $4,194 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.