CPT code 61320 denotes a neurosurgical craniotomy/craniectomy to open the skull above the tentorium and drain an intracranial abscess. The procedure relieves mass effect and infection-related pressure from focal abscesses caused by penetrating injury or microbial invasion, and it may be performed as a primary drainage or for recurrent collections after initial aspiration. Nationally, this code represents high-acuity operative care typically performed in hospital operating rooms with multidisciplinary perioperative and inpatient management needs.

Key payers addressed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical and billing overview, expected site-of-service context, common modifier usage (listed separately in reference sections), and guidance on where this service typically fits within neurosurgical practice patterns. The publication summarizes coding intent, service setting, and the clinical circumstances that justify operative drainage of supratentorial abscesses, and provides benchmarking and policy-relevant context where payer coverage patterns and prior authorization practices commonly apply.

This national summary is intended for clinicians, coding professionals, and policy analysts seeking a clear description of the procedure represented by CPT code 61320, associated service context, and the payer landscape relevant to inpatient neurosurgical drainage of intracranial abscesses.