Spinal tap cost in Iowa
In Iowa, 74 hospitals publish a cash price for spinal tap (lumbar puncture), diagnostic: from $108.80 to $2,325.70, with a median of $603.85. The lowest price is at Decatur County Hospital (Leon). The highest price is 21.4× the lowest.
- The median here, $603.85, is 30% below the US median of $859.25.
- That is 0.8× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($721.17).
- Iowa ranks 10th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 8 of 74 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 7, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$108.80Decatur County Hospital
Median$603.85half of hospitals charge less
Highest$2,325.70in Iowa
Lowest saves$495.05vs the median
Hospitals in Iowa, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur County Hospital lowest Leon · Leon, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $108.80 | $136.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Hansen Family Hospital Iowa Falls · Iowa Falls, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $140.00 | $140.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Knoxville Hospital & Clinics Knoxville · Pella, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $150.60 | $251.00 | Jan 24, 2026 source file |
| Clarinda Regional Health Center Clarinda · Clarinda, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $191.25 | $255.00 | Oct 23, 2026 source file |
| Dallas County Hospital Perry · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA LUMBAR PUNCTURE | $196.00 | $301.00 | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa Corning · Corning, IA HC LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNOSTIC | $199.80 | $444.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Shenandoah Medical Center Shenandoah · Shenandoah, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $214.50 | $330.00 | Sep 21, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital of Missouri Valley, Iowa Missouri Valley · Omaha, NE-IA HC LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNOSTIC | $222.00 | $444.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Spinal Puncture, Lumbar | $228.00 | $228.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Madison County Memorial Hospital Winterset · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $266.40 | $333.00 | Oct 21, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Jones Regional Medical Center Anamosa · Cedar Rapids, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $305.60 | $382.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Orange City Municipal Hospital Orange City · Orange City, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $308.80 | $386.00 | Sep 23, 2026 source file |
| Waverly Health Center Waverly · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $320.32 | $616.00 | Oct 19, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA Lumbar puncture diagnostic | $321.30 | $1,071.00 | Feb 15, 2026 source file |
| Hancock County Health System Britt · Britt, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $321.75 | $429.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Humboldt · Humboldt, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $324.45 | $360.50 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Community Memorial Hospital Medical Center Sumner · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $346.01 | $432.52 | Jun 18, 2026 source file |
| Greene County Medical Center Jefferson · Jefferson, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $346.08 | $618.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DX | $351.31 | $817.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Kossuth Regional Health Center Algona · Algona, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $362.40 | $453.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Cherokee Regional Medical Center Cherokee · Cherokee, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $385.20 | $428.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| WinnMed Decorah · Decorah, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $396.90 | $567.00 | Oct 13, 2026 source file |
| Sioux Center Health Sioux Center · Sioux Center, IA | $406.43 | $419.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Van Diest Medical Center Webster City · Webster City, IA SPINAL FLUID TAP DIAGNOSTIC | $407.20 | $509.00 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| Guthrie County Hospital Guthrie Center · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $442.00 | $442.00 | Sep 26, 2026 source file |
| Grundy County Memorial Hospital Grundy Center · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $444.00 | $555.00 | Jun 29, 2026 source file |
| Van Buren County Hospital Keosauqua · Keosauqua, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $453.60 | $648.00 | Jul 20, 2026 source file |
| Allen Hospital Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $457.48 | $571.84 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health Marshalltown Marshalltown · Marshalltown, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $457.48 | $571.84 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Veterans Memorial Hospital City of Waukon Ia Waukon · Waukon, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $465.12 | $816.00 | Oct 8, 2026 source file |
| Loring Hospital Sac City · Sac City, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $468.00 | $585.00 | Aug 25, 2026 source file |
| Rawford County Memorial Hospital Denison · Denison, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $484.00 | $605.00 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| Shelby County Chris A Myrtue Memorial Hospital Harlan · Harlan, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $488.94 | $843.00 | Apr 21, 2026 source file |
| Lakes Regional Hospital Spirit Lake · Spirit Lake, IA | $513.95 | $541.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Finley Hospital Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $519.82 | $649.77 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Stewart Memorial Community Hospital Lake City · Lake City, IA SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $564.00 | $705.00 | Oct 8, 2024 source file |
| MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $603.85 | $929.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Elkader Medical Center Elkader · Elkader, IA HC Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $603.85 | $929.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Newton Medical Center Newton · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $603.85 | $929.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Belmond Community Hospital Belmond · Belmond, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $631.80 | $1,053.00 | Apr 22, 2026 source file |
| Jefferson County Hospital Fairfield · Fairfield, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $632.40 | $1,054.00 | Aug 20, 2026 source file |
| Iowa Specialty Hospital-Clarion Clarion · Clarion, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $657.00 | $1,095.00 | Jun 11, 2026 source file |
| Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Storm Lake · Storm Lake, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $657.60 | $822.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center Sioux City · Sioux City, IA-NE-SD HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $716.81 | $896.01 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Floyd County Memorial Hospital Commission Charles City · Charles City, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $721.20 | $1,803.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinic West Union · West Union, IA HCHG 62270 SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR PERFORMED IN PACU | $781.70 | $1,316.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Virginia Gay Hospital Vinton · Cedar Rapids, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $796.80 | $996.00 | Aug 13, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge · Fort Dodge, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $840.80 | $1,051.00 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Wayne County Hospital Corydon · Corydon, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $845.00 | $845.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL GHS CANCER CLINIC LUMBAR PUNCTURE DX | $871.20 | $1,452.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Guttenberg Municipal Hospital Guttenberg · Guttenberg, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $884.80 | $1,106.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Cass County Memorial Hospital Atlantic · Atlantic, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $902.30 | $1,289.00 | Jun 1, 2026 source file |
| Boone County Hospital Boone · Ames, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $921.94 | $1,152.42 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Centerville Medical Center Centerville · Centerville, IA HC Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $929.00 | $929.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Washington County Hospital Washington · Iowa City, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $954.00 | $1,272.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL GHS OPCC BACLOFEN TRIAL LP 1ST HR | $969.60 | $1,616.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon · Sheldon, IA SURG 62270 SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $974.40 | $1,218.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell · Grinnell, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $978.91 | $1,223.63 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center Dewitt · Clinton, IA GHS LUMBAR PUNCTURE | $1,052.40 | $1,754.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $1,157.00 | $1,780.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR, DIAGNOSTIC | $1,189.30 | $1,699.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR, DIAGNOSTIC | $1,189.30 | $1,699.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $1,242.43 | $1,553.03 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Trinity - Bettendorf Bettendorf · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $1,251.44 | $1,564.30 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Unity Healthcare Muscatine · Muscatine, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $1,251.44 | $1,564.30 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Jackson County Regional Health Center Maquoketa · Maquoketa, IA GHS LUMBAR PUNCTURE | $1,330.00 | $1,330.00 | Aug 11, 2026 source file |
| Spencer Municipal Hospital Spencer · Spencer, IA Lumbar Puncture Dx w/o Gde | $1,573.50 | $2,098.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| St Anthony Regional Hospital and Nursing Home Carroll · Carroll, IA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $1,603.00 | $1,603.00 | Nov 3, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Methodist Hospital Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids, IA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $1,712.36 | $2,140.45 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center West Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $1,780.00 | $1,780.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City · Mason City, IA HC Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $1,807.00 | $2,780.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton · Clinton, IA HC Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $1,847.30 | $2,842.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Regional Medical Center Manchester · Manchester, IA DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $2,005.60 | $2,507.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC Puncture Spinal Lumbar Diagnostic | $2,325.70 | $3,578.00 | Mar 31, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 8 | $196.00 | $522.92 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 5 | $320.32 | $444.00 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3 | $871.20 | $969.60 |
| Iowa City, IA | 3 | $954.00 | $1,189.30 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 3 | $222.00 | $321.30 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 2 | $305.60 | $551.20 |
| Clinton, IA | 2 | $1,052.40 | $1,449.85 |
| Dubuque, IA | 2 | $519.82 | $561.84 |
| Algona, IA | 1 | $362.40 | $362.40 |
| Atlantic, IA | 1 | $902.30 | $902.30 |
| Ames, IA | 1 | $921.94 | $921.94 |
| Belmond, IA | 1 | $631.80 | $631.80 |
| Britt, IA | 1 | $321.75 | $321.75 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $1,712.36 | $1,712.36 |
| Centerville, IA | 1 | $929.00 | $929.00 |
| Charles City, IA | 1 | $721.20 | $721.20 |
| Cherokee, IA | 1 | $385.20 | $385.20 |
| Clarinda, IA | 1 | $191.25 | $191.25 |
| Clarion, IA | 1 | $657.00 | $657.00 |
| Corning, IA | 1 | $199.80 | $199.80 |
| Corydon, IA | 1 | $845.00 | $845.00 |
| Carroll, IA | 1 | $1,603.00 | $1,603.00 |
| Decorah, IA | 1 | $396.90 | $396.90 |
| Denison, IA | 1 | $484.00 | $484.00 |
| Elkader, IA | 1 | $603.85 | $603.85 |
| Fairfield, IA | 1 | $632.40 | $632.40 |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $840.80 | $840.80 |
| Grinnell, IA | 1 | $978.91 | $978.91 |
| Guttenberg, IA | 1 | $884.80 | $884.80 |
| Harlan, IA | 1 | $488.94 | $488.94 |
| Humboldt, IA | 1 | $324.45 | $324.45 |
| Iowa Falls, IA | 1 | $140.00 | $140.00 |
| Jefferson, IA | 1 | $346.08 | $346.08 |
| Keosauqua, IA | 1 | $453.60 | $453.60 |
| Lake City, IA | 1 | $564.00 | $564.00 |
| Leon, IA | 1 | $108.80 | $108.80 |
| Manchester, IA | 1 | $2,005.60 | $2,005.60 |
| Maquoketa, IA | 1 | $1,330.00 | $1,330.00 |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $457.48 | $457.48 |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $1,807.00 | $1,807.00 |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $1,251.44 | $1,251.44 |
| Orange City, IA | 1 | $308.80 | $308.80 |
| Pella, IA | 1 | $150.60 | $150.60 |
| Sac City, IA | 1 | $468.00 | $468.00 |
| Sheldon, IA | 1 | $974.40 | $974.40 |
| Shenandoah, IA | 1 | $214.50 | $214.50 |
| Sioux Center, IA | 1 | $406.43 | $406.43 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $716.81 | $716.81 |
| Spencer, IA | 1 | $1,573.50 | $1,573.50 |
| Spirit Lake, IA | 1 | $513.95 | $513.95 |
| Storm Lake, IA | 1 | $657.60 | $657.60 |
| Waukon, IA | 1 | $465.12 | $465.12 |
| Webster City, IA | 1 | $407.20 | $407.20 |
| West Union, IA | 1 | $781.70 | $781.70 |
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
- Alabama$674.88
- 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
- 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.