Spinal tap cost in Alabama
In Alabama, 45 hospitals publish a cash price for spinal tap (lumbar puncture), diagnostic: from $93.47 to $4,362.00, with a median of $674.88. The lowest price is at Russellville Hospital (Russellville). The highest price is 46.7× the lowest.
- The median here, $674.88, is 21% below the US median of $859.25.
- That is 0.9× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($721.17).
- Alabama ranks 15th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 14 of 45 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 62270. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 8, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$93.47Russellville Hospital
Median$674.88half of hospitals charge less
Highest$4,362.00in Alabama
Lowest saves$581.41vs the median
Hospitals in Alabama, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russellville Hospital lowest Russellville · Russellville, AL LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNSTC | $93.47 | $359.50 | Jul 31, 2026 source file |
| Athens Limestone Hospital Athens · Huntsville, AL LUMBAR PUNCTURE | $96.00 | $96.00 | Mar 25, 2026 source file |
| DeKalb Regional Medical Center Fort Payne · Fort Payne, AL LUMBAR PUNCTURE | $96.00 | $96.00 | Aug 20, 2026 source file |
| Medical Center Barbour Eufaula · Eufaula, AL-GA LUMBAR PUNCTURE DX | $98.50 | $197.00 | Mar 29, 2026 source file |
| Coosa Valley Medical Center Sylacauga · Talladega-Sylacauga, AL Lumbar Puncture | $114.00 | $475.00 | — source file |
| Hale County Hospital Greensboro · Tuscaloosa, AL LUMBAR PUNCTURE | $132.00 | $165.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UAB Medical West Bessemer · Birmingham, AL Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnos | $179.25 | $239.00 | Jun 22, 2026 source file |
| Monroe County Hospital Monroeville · Monroeville, AL SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $186.20 | $465.50 | Mar 2, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Medical Center South Montgomery · Montgomery, AL DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $354.60 | $591.00 | Dec 30, 2025 source file |
| Tanner Medical Center - East Alabama Wedowee · Wedowee, AL REMOVAL OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID WITH LOWER BACK SPINAL TAP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST | $364.00 | $910.00 | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Flowers Hospital Dothan · Dothan, AL S-SPINAL TAP DIAGNST | $389.55 | $2,597.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Medical Center Enterprise Enterprise · Enterprise, AL S-SPINAL TAP DIAGNST | $408.02 | $4,533.56 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Evergreen Medical Center Evergreen · Evergreen, AL LUMBAR PUNCTURE/DIAGNOSTIC | $484.90 | $746.00 | Sep 2, 2026 source file |
| Baldwin Health Foley · Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL S-SPINAL TAP DIAGNST | $494.17 | $2,745.39 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Troy Regional Medical Center Troy · Troy, AL LUMBAR PUNCTURE | $571.08 | $1,003.56 | Dec 31, 2024 source file |
| Decatur Morgan Hospital West Decatur · Decatur, AL SPINAL PUNCTURE-LUMBAR DIAG | $577.00 | $577.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Decatur Morgan Hospital - Decatur Campus Decatur · Decatur, AL SPINAL PUNCTURE-LUMBAR DIAG | $577.00 | $577.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Decatur Morgan Hospital - Parkway Campus Decatur · Decatur, AL SPINAL PUNCTURE-LUMBAR DIAG | $577.00 | $577.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Gadsden Regional Medical Center Gadsden · Gadsden, AL S-SPINAL TAP DIAGNST | $620.21 | $5,168.42 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Riverview Regional Medical Center Gadsden · Gadsden, AL Hc Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic | $630.00 | $2,925.85 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Whitfield Regional Hospital Demopolis · Demopolis, AL Lumbar Puncture | $639.00 | $1,065.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Dch Regional Medical Center Tuscaloosa · Tuscaloosa, AL SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOS | $674.88 | $1,349.75 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Fayette Medical Center Fayette · Fayette, AL SPINAL FLUID TAP DIAGN 62270 | $674.88 | $1,349.75 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Floyd Cherokee Medical Center Centre · Centre, AL HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $735.00 | $1,470.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Grandview Medical Center Birmingham · Birmingham, AL S-SPINAL TAP DIAGNST | $742.80 | $4,952.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Crenshaw Community Hospital Luverne · Luverne, AL LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNOSTIC | $748.52 | $1,497.03 | Oct 13, 2025 source file |
| Southeast Health Medical Center Dothan · Dothan, AL REMOVAL OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID WITH LOWER BACK SPINAL TAP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST | $779.82 | $1,949.55 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| East Alabama Medical Center Opelika · Auburn-Opelika, AL Spinal Puncture Lumbar Diagnostic 62270 | $908.05 | $1,651.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner Choctaw General Butler · Butler, AL HC SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR, DX | $962.92 | $1,267.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Marion Regional Medical Center Hamilton · Hamilton, AL HC SPINAL PUNCTURELUMBARDIAGNOSTIC | $990.72 | $2,304.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| North Mississippi Health Services-South Marion Winfield · Winfield, AL HC SPINAL PUNCTURELUMBARDIAGNOSTIC | $990.72 | $2,304.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Highlands Medical Center Scottsboro · Scottsboro, AL REMOVAL OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID WITH LOWER BACK SPINAL TAP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST | $1,003.10 | $1,433.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Crestwood Medical Center Huntsville · Huntsville, AL S-SPINAL TAP DIAGNST | $1,130.38 | $6,279.90 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Springhill Memorial Hospital Mobile · Mobile, AL LUMBAR PUNCTURE | $1,390.61 | $1,636.01 | Apr 2, 2026 source file |
| Helen Keller Hospital Sheffield · Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL PACK, CRANIOTOMY | $1,517.40 | $1,517.40 | Mar 27, 2026 source file |
| Huntsville Hospital Huntsville · Huntsville, AL DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $1,721.50 | $1,721.50 | Mar 27, 2026 source file |
| Huntsville Hospital Madison · Huntsville, AL DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $1,721.50 | $1,721.50 | Mar 27, 2026 source file |
| Marshall Medical Center North Guntersville · Albertville, AL DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $1,721.50 | $1,721.50 | Apr 13, 2026 source file |
| Marshall Medical Centers Boaz · Albertville, AL DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $1,721.50 | $1,721.50 | Apr 13, 2026 source file |
| The Children's Hospital of Alabama Birmingham · Birmingham, AL HC Lp Puncture | $1,800.07 | $4,186.20 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| The Children's Hospital of Alabama – Benjamin Russell Hospital Birmingham · Birmingham, AL HC Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic | $1,800.07 | $4,186.20 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Citizens Hospital Talladega · Talladega-Sylacauga, AL Hb Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic | $4,362.00 | $4,362.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Princeton Hospital Birmingham · Birmingham, AL Hb Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic | $4,362.00 | $4,362.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Shelby Hospital Alabaster · Birmingham, AL Hb Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic | $4,362.00 | $4,362.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Walker Hospital Jasper · Birmingham, AL Hb Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic | $4,362.00 | $4,362.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
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
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
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
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 7 | $179.25 | $1,800.07 |
| Huntsville, AL | 4 | $96.00 | $1,425.94 |
| Decatur, AL | 3 | $577.00 | $577.00 |
| Albertville, AL | 2 | $1,721.50 | $1,721.50 |
| Dothan, AL | 2 | $389.55 | $584.68 |
| Gadsden, AL | 2 | $620.21 | $625.10 |
| Talladega-Sylacauga, AL | 2 | $114.00 | $2,238.00 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 2 | $132.00 | $403.44 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | 1 | $908.05 | $908.05 |
| Butler, AL | 1 | $962.92 | $962.92 |
| Centre, AL | 1 | $735.00 | $735.00 |
| Demopolis, AL | 1 | $639.00 | $639.00 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 1 | $494.17 | $494.17 |
| Evergreen, AL | 1 | $484.90 | $484.90 |
| Enterprise, AL | 1 | $408.02 | $408.02 |
| Eufaula, AL-GA | 1 | $98.50 | $98.50 |
| Fayette, AL | 1 | $674.88 | $674.88 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 1 | $1,517.40 | $1,517.40 |
| Fort Payne, AL | 1 | $96.00 | $96.00 |
| Hamilton, AL | 1 | $990.72 | $990.72 |
| Luverne, AL | 1 | $748.52 | $748.52 |
| Monroeville, AL | 1 | $186.20 | $186.20 |
| Mobile, AL | 1 | $1,390.61 | $1,390.61 |
| Montgomery, AL | 1 | $354.60 | $354.60 |
| Russellville, AL | 1 | $93.47 | $93.47 |
| Scottsboro, AL | 1 | $1,003.10 | $1,003.10 |
| Troy, AL | 1 | $571.08 | $571.08 |
| Wedowee, AL | 1 | $364.00 | $364.00 |
| Winfield, AL | 1 | $990.72 | $990.72 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What spinal tap is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Spinal tap explained.
Spinal tap (lumbar puncture), diagnostic in other states
- Alaska$893.88
- Arizona$648.16
- Arkansas$680.68
- California$1,320.80
- Colorado$906.27
- Connecticut$1,147.50
- Delaware$1,149.53
- District of Columbia$999.97, 3 hospitals
- Florida$1,245.30
- Georgia$1,267.32
- Hawaii$1,283.10
- Idaho$842.55
- Illinois$969.60
- Indiana$1,025.25
- Iowa$603.85
- Kansas$554.40
- Kentucky$687.26
- Louisiana$458.49
- Maine$523.25
- Maryland$577.32
- Massachusetts$1,463.00
- Michigan$856.05
- Minnesota$742.15
- Mississippi$476.70
- Missouri$667.93
- Montana$436.00
- Nebraska$508.80
- Nevada$785.35
- New Hampshire$548.50
- New Jersey$943.92
- New Mexico$853.31
- New York$1,185.00
- North Carolina$813.75
- North Dakota$862.97
- Ohio$1,071.00
- Oklahoma$622.87
- Oregon$995.48
- Pennsylvania$1,222.50
- Puerto Rico$1,050.00, 3 hospitals
- Rhode Island$1,091.65
- South Carolina$1,012.46
- South Dakota$1,018.44
- Tennessee$402.00
- Texas$1,045.65
- Utah$765.59
- Vermont$844.20
- Virginia$859.25
- Washington$992.00
- West Virginia$1,005.50
- Wisconsin$605.00
- Wyoming$725.76
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.