remote second opinions
meningiomas are the most common type of noncancerous brain tumor and can vary greatly in size, location, and treatment plan. if you happen to have a more complex case, you might want to seek second, third, and even fourth opinions from top neurosurgeons around the U.S. in my case, i consulted with seven neurosurgeons and two radiation oncologists before making a final decision on my treatment plan.
generally speaking, telemedicine across state lines is not permitted in the U.S. (as of 2025)1, but exceptions can apply. below is a list of top skull base neurosurgery institutions in the U.S. that offer remote second opinion services for out of state patients.
please note that many of these hospitals do not accept insurance, and some only offer written opinions and not an actual virtual meeting with the surgeon.
| Hospital / Program | Fees | Insurance? | Turnaround time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrow Neurological Institute | $100 | No | 7-10 business days |
| Brigham and Women's Hospital | $950 | No | 7-10 business days |
| Cedars-Sinai | $590 (in-state) / $790 (out-of-state) | No (HSA/FSA OK) | 4-6 business days |
| Cleveland Clinic | $1,690 (written) / $1,990 (w/ virtual visit); $4,500 (international) | No | Unspecified |
| Duke | $800 | No (HSA/FSA OK) | Unspecified |
| Emory | $550 | No | 7-10 business days |
| Mass General Hospital | $950 | No | Within 10 business days |
| Stanford | $975 | No | Usually within 2 weeks |
| UCSF | $900 | No | 7-10 days |
if there is a hospital or surgeon you'd like to speak with that's not on this list, simply search "hospital name" + "remote second opinion" to see if they offer second opinion services.
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footnotes:
https://chghealthcare.com/blog/telehealth-rules-regulations↩