CPT code 61150 denotes a neurosurgical procedure to create one or more burr holes in the skull for drainage of a brain abscess or cyst. This intervention addresses potentially life-threatening intracranial infections or fluid collections and is performed emergently or urgently when medical therapy alone is insufficient. Nationally, accurate coding of this procedure matters for clinical continuity, appropriate facility resource allocation, and reimbursement for complex neurosurgical care.

Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical context for 61150, common sites of service, and the types of clinical situations that prompt its use. The publication summarizes typical coding considerations, common modifiers encountered in practice (listed in the input), and the expected care setting for billing and utilization purposes.

This report also outlines what to expect in benchmarking and policy review sections: national utilization benchmarks where available, payer policy highlights that commonly affect authorization and coverage for surgical drainage of intracranial abscesses, and notes on documentation elements that support medical necessity. Data not provided in the input—such as specific payer policies, associated taxonomies, and ICD-10 mapping—are identified as unavailable.