Spinal tap cost in Louisiana
In Louisiana, 13 hospitals publish a cash price for spinal tap (lumbar puncture), diagnostic: from $271.20 to $1,320.54, with a median of $494.48. The lowest price is at Hardtner Medical Center (Olla). The highest price is 4.9× the lowest.
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 Sep 23, 2026.
Hospitals in Louisiana, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardtner Medical Center lowest Olla · Olla, LA 62270 SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC ProFee | $271.20 | $339.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Touro Infirmary New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Spinal Tap for Diagnosis | $276.22 | $1,973.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| New Orleans East Hospital New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Spinal Tap for Diagnosis | $289.92 | $1,812.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| University Med Center New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Spinal Tap for Diagnosis | $319.22 | $1,451.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Jefferson Medical Center Marrero · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Spinal Tap for Diagnosis | $339.84 | $2,124.00 | Jun 30, 2026 source file |
| Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center Independence · Hammond, LA DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $421.48 | $702.46 | — source file |
| East Jefferson General Hospital Metairie · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Spinal Tap for Diagnosis | $494.48 | $3,532.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakeside Hospital Metairie · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Spinal Tap for Diagnosis | $494.48 | $3,532.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakeview Hospital Covington · Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA Spinal Tap for Diagnosis | $494.48 | $3,532.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Tulane Medical Center New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Spinal Tap for Diagnosis | $494.48 | $3,532.00 | Jun 25, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Hospital New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA Spinal Tap for Diagnosis | $618.03 | $2,289.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Natchitoches · Natchitoches, LA SPINAL PUNCT. LUMBAR, DX | $703.20 | $1,758.00 | Mar 18, 2026 source file |
| St. Frances Cabrini Hospital Alexandria · Alexandria, LA HC 62270 SPI PNXR LMBR DX | $1,320.54 | $5,079.00 | Jan 13, 2026 source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 8 | $276.22 | $417.16 |
| Alexandria, LA | 1 | $1,320.54 | $1,320.54 |
| Hammond, LA | 1 | $421.48 | $421.48 |
| Natchitoches, LA | 1 | $703.20 | $703.20 |
| Olla, LA | 1 | $271.20 | $271.20 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | 1 | $494.48 | $494.48 |
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.
Spinal tap (lumbar puncture), diagnostic in other states
- Alabama$1,721.50
- Alaska$1,437.54
- Arizona$488.15
- Arkansas$526.18
- California$1,320.80
- Colorado$491.58
- Connecticut$420.00
- Delaware$1,149.53
- Florida$1,597.40
- Georgia$2,049.06
- Hawaii$921.60
- Idaho$1,886.00
- Illinois$752.00
- Indiana$1,087.63
- Iowa$342.40
- Kansas$1,160.49
- Kentucky$769.21
- Maine$369.70
- Maryland$511.30
- Massachusetts$1,047.90
- Michigan$707.85
- Minnesota$698.55
- Mississippi$271.01
- Missouri$340.57
- Montana$253.60
- Nebraska$343.14
- Nevada$785.35
- New Hampshire$495.55
- New Jersey$824.78
- New Mexico$500.01
- New York$819.50
- North Carolina$843.88
- North Dakota$890.99
- Ohio$1,038.60
- Oklahoma$507.55
- Oregon$562.50
- Pennsylvania$1,439.83
- Rhode Island$592.80
- South Carolina$719.00
- South Dakota$940.80
- Tennessee$282.90
- Texas$1,134.64
- Utah$746.52
- Vermont$240.10
- Virginia$936.20
- Washington$1,006.70
- West Virginia$995.75
- Wisconsin$580.00
- Wyoming$421.19
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.