Spinal tap cost in Philadelphia, PA
In Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, 22 hospitals list a cash price for spinal tap (lumbar puncture), diagnostic: from $109.30 to $5,033.88, with a median of $892.80. The lowest listed price is at West Jersey Hospital and 3 other hospitals — $783.50 less than the median here. Across Pennsylvania, the median is $1,439.83 at 62 hospitals.
Cash prices at 22 facilities across 18 cities for code 62270, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 24, 2026 and Sep 1, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Jersey Hospital lowest Voorhees, NJ · (856) 247-3000 HC Spinal Puncture Lumbar | $109.30 | $1,093.00 | $756.84–$16,391.00 | 90% | — source file |
| West Jersey Hospital lowest Voorhees, NJ · (856) 247-3000 HC Spinal Puncture Lumbar | $109.30 | $1,093.00 | $756.84–$16,391.00 | 90% | — source file |
| Virtua Willingboro Hospital lowest Willinboro, NJ · (609) 835-2900 HC Spinal Puncture Lumbar | $109.30 | $1,093.00 | $756.84–$16,391.00 | 90% | — source file |
| Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes lowest Camden, NJ · (856) 886-5373 HC Spinal Puncture Lumbar | $109.30 | $1,093.00 | $756.84–$16,391.00 | 90% | — source file |
| Virtua Memorial Hospital lowest Mount Holly, NJ · (609) 267-0700 HC Spinal Puncture Lumbar | $109.30 | $1,093.00 | $756.84–$16,391.00 | 90% | — source file |
| Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital Darby, PA · (215) 237-4000 PR Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $138.00 | $138.00 | $20.56–$131.10 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lower Bucks Hospital Bristol, PA · (215) 785-9200 Hc Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic | $694.00 | $1,055.65 | $183.58–$1,055.65 | 34% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital Darby, PA · (215) 237-4000 HC Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $699.40 | $1,076.00 | $56.70–$3,742.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Roxborough Memorial Hospital Philadelphia, PA · (215) 483-9900 Hc Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic | $721.00 | $3,277.30 | $358.00–$3,277.30 | 78% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Roxborough Memorial Hospital Philadelphia, PA · (215) 483-9900 Hc Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic | $721.00 | $3,277.30 | $358.00–$3,277.30 | 78% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Riddle Memorial Hospital Media, PA · (610) 566-9400 Hc Spinal Punct Lumbar Diag | $892.80 | $2,232.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Lankenau Medical Center Wynnewood, PA · (610) 645-2000 Hc Spinal Fluid Tap Diagnostic | $892.80 | $2,232.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Lankenau Medical Center Wynnewood, PA · (610) 645-2000 Hc Spinal Punct Lumbar Diag | $892.80 | $2,232.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Paoli Hospital Paoli, PA · (610) 648-1000 Hc Spinal Fluid Tap Diagnostic | $892.80 | $2,232.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Paoli Hospital Paoli, PA · (610) 648-1000 Hc Spinal Punct Lumbar Diag | $892.80 | $2,232.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital Malvern, PA Hc Spinal Punct Lumbar Diag | $892.80 | $2,232.00 | — | 60% | — source file |
| Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital Malvern, PA Hc Spinal Fluid Tap Diagnostic | $892.80 | $2,232.00 | — | 60% | — source file |
| The Bryn Mawr Hospital Bryn Mawr, PA · (610) 526-3000 Hc Spinal Punct Lumbar Diag | $892.80 | $2,232.00 | — | 60% | — source file |
| Riddle Memorial Hospital Media, PA · (610) 566-9400 Hc Spinal Fluid Tap Diagnostic | $892.80 | $2,232.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Bryn Mawr Hospital Bryn Mawr, PA · (610) 526-3000 Hc Spinal Fluid Tap Diagnostic | $892.80 | $2,232.00 | — | 60% | — source file |
| St. Francis Hospital Wilmington, DE · (302) 421-4100 HC Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $1,127.75 | $1,735.00 | $607.25–$2,608.09 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Elmer Elmer, NJ · (856) 363-1000 LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $273.16–$12,612.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill Mullica Hill, NJ Lumbar Puncture | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $273.16–$4,105.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill Mullica Hill, NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $273.16–$12,612.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill Mullica Hill, NJ LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $273.16–$12,612.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill Mullica Hill, NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DX | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $273.16–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mannington Salem, NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DX | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $252.93–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mannington Salem, NJ LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $252.93–$12,612.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mannington Salem, NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $252.93–$12,612.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Health Center Woodbury Woodbury, NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $258.41–$12,612.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Health Center Woodbury Woodbury, NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DX | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $258.41–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mannington Salem, NJ Lumbar Puncture | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $252.93–$4,105.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Health Center Woodbury Woodbury, NJ LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $258.41–$12,612.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Elmer Elmer, NJ · (856) 363-1000 Lumbar Puncture | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $273.16–$4,105.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Elmer Elmer, NJ · (856) 363-1000 SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $273.16–$12,612.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Health Center Woodbury Woodbury, NJ Lumbar Puncture | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $258.41–$4,105.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Elmer Elmer, NJ · (856) 363-1000 SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DX | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | $273.16–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Nazareth Hospital Philadelphia, PA · (215) 335-6000 HC Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $1,732.25 | $2,665.00 | $60.90–$3,742.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St Mary Medical Center Langhorne, PA · (215) 750-2003 HC Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $1,879.15 | $2,891.00 | $48.30–$3,782.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Nemours Children's Hospital Wilmington, DE · (302) 651-4000 Lumbar Puncture | $3,084.00 | $3,084.00 | — | — | — source file |
| Nemours Children's Hospital Wilmington, DE · (302) 651-4000 Lumbar Puncture | $3,084.00 | $3,084.00 | — | — | — source file |
| Shriners Childrens - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · (215) 430-4000 DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $3,345.08 | $3,345.08 | $42.00–$1,015.27 | — | — source file |
| St Mary Medical Center Langhorne, PA · (215) 750-2003 HC Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $4,483.05 | — | $48.30–$3,782.00 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · (215) 590-1000 Lp/Myelo, Lp Diagnostic | $5,033.88 | $5,033.88 | $1,324.92–$9,018.00 | — | — source file |
| The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · (215) 590-1000 Lumbar Puncture-Dx | $5,033.88 | $5,033.88 | $1,324.92–$9,018.00 | — | — source file |
| The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · (215) 590-1000 Spinal Puncture, Lumbar Diagnostic | $5,033.88 | $5,033.88 | $56.70–$4,530.49 | — | — source file |
Outpatient: lowest $109.30, median $892.80, highest $5,033.88 — a 46.1× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 14 facilities here, median $1,314.41. 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 14 of 16 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 4 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 it is
A spinal tap removes a small amount of spinal fluid from the lower back with a needle. It is used for meningitis, bleeding and some neurological diseases.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the procedure. The lab tests on the fluid are billed separately.