Spinal tap cost in Los Angeles, CA
In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, 44 hospitals list a cash price for spinal tap (lumbar puncture), diagnostic: from $364.00 to $3,605.00, with a median of $1,224.30. The lowest listed price is at Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center — $860.30 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $1,320.80 at 190 hospitals.
- The median here, $1,224.30, is 42% above the US median of $859.25.
- That is 1.7× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($721.17).
- Los Angeles, CA ranks 2nd of 5 metro areas in California by median, cheapest first.
- 12 of 44 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 44 facilities across 34 cities for code 62270, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Nov 3, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Nov 26, 2025 and Sep 30, 2026.
Lowest$364.00Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center
Median$1,224.30half of hospitals charge less
Highest$3,605.00in this market
Difference9.9×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA.
median
Lowest $364.00Highest $5,134.00
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center lowest Tarzana, CA · (818) 881-0800 HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $364.00 | $1,040.00 | — | 65% |
| Providence Little Co of Mary Medical Center San Pedro San Pedro, CA · (310) 832-3311 HC ED SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC CDM+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $392.35 | $1,121.00 | — | 65% |
| Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance Torrance, CA · (310) 540-7676 HC ED SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC CDM+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $392.35 | $1,121.00 | — | 65% |
| Glendale Memorial Hospital & Health Center Glendale, CA · (818) 502-1900 PUNCTURE SPINAL LUMBAR DX File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $515.67 | $1,639.00 | $93.99–$8,336.00 | 69% |
| California Hospital Medical Center LA Los Angeles, CA · (213) 748-2411 PUNCTURE SPINAL LUMBAR DX File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $605.40 | $1,266.00 | $84.59–$10,428.00 | 52% |
| Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Mission Hills, CA · (818) 365-8051 HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $705.95 | $2,017.00 | — | 65% |
| USC Arcadia Hospital Arcadia, CA · (626) 898-8000 1T LUMBAR PUNCTURE+6 more lines at this price File of Jul 27, 2026 · source file | $779.80 | $2,228.00 | $577.29–$10,420.38 | 65% |
| Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank, CA · (818) 843-5111 HC ED SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC CDM+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $783.30 | $2,238.00 | — | 65% |
| St Jude Hospital Fullerton, CA · (714) 992-3000 HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $802.56 | $1,672.00 | — | 52% |
| St Mary Medical Center Long Beach, CA · (562) 491-9000 PUNCTURE SPINAL LUMBAR DX File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $807.25 | $1,866.00 | $93.99–$6,253.00 | 57% |
| Sherman Oaks Hospital Sherman Oaks, CA · (818) 981-7111 SPINAL TAP,LUMBAR PUNC DX (ER)+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $903.00 | $1,796.43 | $117.49–$2,994.05 | 50% |
| Centinela Hospital Medical Center Inglewood, CA · (310) 673-4660 ER LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNOSTIC+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $903.00 | $1,796.43 | $117.49–$1,796.43 | 50% |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center Encino, CA · (818) 995-5000 LUMBAR PUNCTURE*RAD+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $903.00 | $2,994.05 | $117.49–$2,994.05 | 70% |
| San Dimas Community Hospital San Dimas, CA · (909) 599-6811 Hc Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $903.00 | $3,868.53 | $117.49–$3,868.53 | 77% |
| La Palma Intercommunity Hospital La Palma, CA · (714) 670-7400 Hc Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $903.00 | $4,065.92 | $117.49–$4,065.92 | 78% |
| St Francis Medical Center Lynwood, CA · (310) 900-8900 Hc Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $903.00 | $3,125.25 | $117.49–$2,812.73 | 71% |
| Garden Grove Hospital Medical Center Garden Grove, CA · (714) 537-5160 Hc Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $903.00 | $1,529.54 | $117.49–$1,529.54 | 41% |
| West Anaheim Medical Center Anaheim, CA · (714) 827-3000 Hc Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $903.00 | $4,065.92 | $117.49–$4,065.92 | 78% |
| Saint John's Health Center Santa Monica, CA · (310) 829-5511 HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $980.00 | $2,800.00 | — | 65% |
| Memorial Hospital of Gardena Gardena, CA · (310) 532-4200 SPINAL FLUID TAP DIAGNOSTIC+1 more line at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $1,224.30 | $1,224.30 | $124.27–$1,728.08 | — |
| East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital Los Angeles, CA · (323) 268-5514 SPINAL FLUID TAP DIAGNOSTIC+1 more line at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $1,224.30 | $1,224.30 | $124.27–$1,850.00 | — |
| Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital Norwalk, CA · (310) 532-4200 SPINAL FLUID TAP DIAGNOSTIC+1 more line at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $1,224.30 | $1,224.30 | $124.27–$2,054.69 | — |
| Community Hospital of Huntington Park Huntington Park, CA · (323) 583-1931 SPINAL FLUID TAP DIAGNOSTIC+1 more line at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $1,224.30 | $1,224.30 | $124.27–$1,850.00 | — |
| Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Irvine Irvine, CA · (714) 279-4000 DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,320.80 | $2,540.00 | $687.00–$2,043.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Bay Harbor City, CA · (310) 325-5111 DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,320.80 | $2,540.00 | $687.00–$2,043.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - West LA Los Angeles, CA · (213) 857-2201 DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,320.80 | $2,540.00 | $687.00–$2,043.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Woodland Hills Woodland Hills, CA · (818) 719-3800 DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,320.80 | $2,540.00 | $687.00–$2,043.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · (323) 783-4011 DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,320.80 | $2,540.00 | $687.00–$2,043.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Downey Downey, CA · (562) 461-6007 DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,320.80 | $2,540.00 | $687.00–$2,043.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim Anaheim, CA · (714) 279-4000 DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,320.80 | $2,540.00 | $687.00–$2,043.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park Baldwin Park, CA · (626) 851-1011 DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,320.80 | $2,540.00 | $687.00–$2,043.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Panorama City Panorama City, CA · (818) 375-2000 DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,320.80 | $2,540.00 | $687.00–$2,043.00 | 48% |
| Pacifica Hospital of the Valley Sun Valley, CA · (818) 767-3310 Lumbar Puncture,diagnostic source file | $1,337.00 | $1,337.00 | $669.00–$1,337.00 | — |
| Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 364-1400 HC ED SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC CDM+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,651.68 | $3,441.00 | — | 52% |
| Providence St Joseph Hospital Orange Orange, CA · (714) 633-9111 HC ED SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC CDM+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,959.84 | $4,083.00 | — | 52% |
| Chapman Global Medical Center Orange, CA · (714) 633-0011 SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC File of May 6, 2026 · source file | $2,350.00 | $2,350.00 | $98.29–$3,954.00 | — |
| Orange County Global Medical Center Santa Ana, CA · (714) 953-3500 SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $2,350.00 | $2,350.00 | $98.29–$3,954.00 | — |
| Anaheim Global Medical Center Anaheim, CA · (714) 533-6220 SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $2,350.00 | $2,350.00 | $81.91–$3,954.00 | — |
| Catalina Island Medical Center Avalon, CA · (310) 510-0700 Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test File of Jul 20, 2026 · source file | $2,488.44 | $3,554.91 | $81.91–$3,554.91 | 30% |
| USC Kenneth Norris Jr Cancer Hospital Los Angeles, CA Diag Spinal Lumbar Puncture File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,733.00 | $2,733.00 | — | — |
| Childrens Hospital at Mission - Cerner Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 365-2408 SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DX+1 more line at this price File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $2,897.00 | $2,897.00 | $81.91–$3,891.00 | — |
| Keck Hospital of USC Los Angeles, CA · (323) 442-8656 Diag Spinal Lumbar Puncture File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,913.00 | $2,913.00 | — | — |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 OUTPATIENT SURGERY CPT GROUP 1+3 more lines at this price File of Nov 26, 2025 · source file | $3,573.84 | $5,498.21 | $862.32–$14,761.00 | 35% |
| Valley Presbyterian Hospital Van Nuys, CA · (818) 782-6600 XR-LUMBAR PUNCTURE File of Jul 9, 2026 · source file | $3,605.00 | $3,605.00 | $889.72–$3,523.00 | — |
| Orange County Global Medical Center Santa Ana, CA · (714) 953-3500 ER-SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $5,134.00 | $5,134.00 | $98.29–$5,134.00 | — |
| Chapman Global Medical Center Orange, CA · (714) 633-0011 ER-SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC File of May 6, 2026 · source file | $5,134.00 | $5,134.00 | $98.29–$5,134.00 | — |
| Anaheim Global Medical Center Anaheim, CA · (714) 533-6220 ER-SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $5,134.00 | $5,134.00 | $81.91–$5,134.00 | — |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Outpatient: lowest $364.00, median $1,224.30, highest $3,605.00 — a 9.9× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 36 facilities here, median $1,320.80. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 31 of 33 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 1 it is below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What spinal tap is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Spinal tap explained.
1 row held back from this comparison
It is priced below $1 or below a tenth of the national median for code 62270 ($838.20). Such a line is almost always a physician's fee billed separately, an assistant's share or a placeholder — a real charge, but not the price of the procedure itself.
| Hospital | Cash price | File |
|---|---|---|
| UCI Health-Orange Orange, CAHB SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $82.40 | file |
File Link to the hospital's own price file.