Spinal tap cost in Minnesota
In Minnesota, 77 hospitals publish a cash price for spinal tap (lumbar puncture), diagnostic: from $135.15 to $1,302.40, with a median of $742.15. The lowest price is at Ortonville Area Health Services (Ortonville). The highest price is 9.6× the lowest.
- The median here, $742.15, is 14% below the US median of $859.25.
- That is about the same as Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($721.17).
- Minnesota ranks 19th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 4 of 77 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. §144.589): a hospital may not charge an uninsured patient whose household income is under $125,000 more than the lowest amount it would be paid for the same service by a private insurer, counting the insured patient's share. If the cash price below is higher, ask the billing office to apply this limit. Each hospital's page here shows the range of insurer rates in its own file (the "Insurers pay" column), a starting point when you ask. Other states' laws.
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 11, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$135.15Ortonville Area Health Services
Median$742.15half of hospitals charge less
Highest$1,302.40in Minnesota
Lowest saves$607.00vs the median
Hospitals in Minnesota, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ortonville Area Health Services lowest Ortonville · Ortonville, MN ED 62270 SPINAL TAP LUMBAR DIAG | $135.15 | $159.00 | Jun 18, 2026 source file |
| Rainy Lake Medical Center International Falls · International Falls, MN ED 62270 SPINAL TAP LUMBAR DIAG | $145.43 | $188.87 | May 6, 2026 source file |
| Astera Health Wadena · Wadena, MN Sc Lumbar Puncture | $173.67 | $240.54 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Northfield Hospital Northfield · Faribault-Northfield, MN Lumbar Puncture Neonate | $186.00 | $443.00 | Apr 16, 2026 source file |
| Kittson Healthcare Hallock · Hallock, MN ED 62270 SPINAL TAP LUMBAR DIAG | $230.00 | $230.00 | Jun 26, 2026 source file |
| Community Memorial Hospital Cloquet · Duluth, MN-WI ER-SPINAL LUMBAR PUNCTURE,DIAG | $244.80 | $382.50 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Meeker County Memorial Hospital Litchfield · Litchfield, MN SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR, DIAGNOSTIC | $249.60 | $390.00 | Dec 28, 2025 source file |
| Lakewood Health Center Baudette · Baudette, MN LUMBAR PUNCTURE MS | $306.32 | $547.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| St. Joseph's Area Health Services Park Rapids · Park Rapids, MN LUMBAR PUNCTURE MS | $306.32 | $547.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| St. Francis Medical Center Breckenridge · Wahpeton, ND-MN LUMBAR PUNCTURE MS | $333.67 | $547.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Regions Hospital St. Paul · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Diagnostic spinal tap | $335.40 | $1,290.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Lakeview Hospital Stillwater · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Diagnostic spinal tap | $342.99 | $927.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Hospital St. Louis Park · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Diagnostic spinal tap | $385.84 | $1,484.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Hutchinson Hospital Hutchinson · Hutchinson, MN Diagnostic spinal tap | $397.90 | $865.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital Minneapolis · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $406.85 | $847.60 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina United Hospital St. Paul · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $406.85 | $847.60 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Coon Rapids · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $406.85 | $847.60 | Jun 17, 2026 source file |
| Glacial Ridge Hospital Glenwood · Glenwood, MN Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $442.36 | $526.62 | Oct 21, 2026 source file |
| Madison Hospital Madison · Madison, MN SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR, DIAGNOSTIC | $456.45 | $537.00 | Jun 23, 2026 source file |
| Perham Health Perham · Fergus Falls, MN Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $479.70 | $738.00 | Feb 1, 2026 source file |
| Mille Lacs Health System Onamia · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI LUMBAR PUNCTURE | $536.20 | $766.00 | Aug 13, 2026 source file |
| Allina Health Faribault Medical Center Faribualt · Faribault-Northfield, MN HCHG SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $537.43 | $959.70 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $537.43 | $959.70 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HCHG SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $537.43 | $959.70 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Owatonna Hospital Owatonna · Owatonna, MN HCHG SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $537.43 | $959.70 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Bigfork Valley Hospital Bigfork · Grand Rapids, MN SPINAL FLUID TAP | $562.82 | $792.70 | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
| Mahnomen Health Center Mahnomen · Mahnomen, MN ED 62270 SPINAL TAP LUMBAR DIAG | $573.30 | $637.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital Ely · Duluth, MN-WI Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $581.58 | $718.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Health Care Minneapolis · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI LP DIAGNOSTIC - CPC | $588.00 | $588.00 | May 7, 2026 source file |
| Lifecare Medical Center Roseau · Roseau, MN Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $627.44 | $713.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Olivia Hospital Olivia · Olivia, MN Diagnostic spinal tap | $632.57 | $1,037.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Glencoe Regional Health Glencoe · Hutchinson, MN HCHG SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $632.85 | $632.85 | Jul 20, 2026 source file |
| North Valley Health Center Warren · Grand Forks, ND-MN Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $647.00 | $647.00 | Oct 22, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health St. Joseph's Medical Center Brainerd · Brainerd, MN SPINAL PUNCTURE,LUMBAR,DX(T) | $667.62 | $992.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital of Wabasha Wabasha · Rochester, MN HCHG 62270 SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR,DIAGNOSTIC; | $671.12 | $1,102.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Windom Area Hospital Windom · Windom, MN ED 62270 SPINAL TAP LUMBAR DIAG | $671.84 | $988.00 | Feb 3, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital Duluth · Duluth, MN-WI Spinal Puncture, Lumbar, Diagnostic | $708.83 | $1,303.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Virginia Virginia · Duluth, MN-WI SPINAL PUNCTURE,LUMBAR,DX(T) | $725.97 | $1,156.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health St. Mary's - Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes · Detroit Lakes, MN SPINAL PUNCTURE,LUMBAR,DX(T) | $742.15 | $1,156.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital Edina · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $747.00 | $1,862.84 | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview St. John's Hospital Maplewood · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $747.00 | $1,862.84 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview University of Mn Medical Center Minneapolis · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Outpatient Services | $747.00 | $1,862.84 | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital Woodbury · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $747.00 | $1,862.84 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Bethesda Hospital St. Paul · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $747.12 | $1,863.12 | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Lakes Health Services Wyoming · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $747.47 | $1,864.00 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Northland Regional Hospital Princeton · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $747.47 | $1,864.00 | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| Maple Grove Hospital Maple Grove · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $759.41 | $1,441.00 | Apr 30, 2026 source file |
| North Memorial Health Care Robbinsdale · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $759.41 | $1,441.00 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Duluth Duluth · Duluth, MN-WI SPINAL PUNCTURE,LUMBAR,DX(T) | $762.96 | $1,156.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health St. Mary's Children's Hospital Duluth · Duluth, MN-WI SPINAL PUNCTURE,LUMBAR,DX(T) | $762.96 | $1,156.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center Duluth · Duluth, MN-WI SPINAL PUNCTURE,LUMBAR,DX(T) | $762.96 | $1,156.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital Burnsville · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HC SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $791.80 | $1,863.05 | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital Grand Rapids · Grand Rapids, MN HC SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $792.20 | $1,864.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Range Regional Health Services Hibbing · Duluth, MN-WI HC SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $792.20 | $1,864.00 | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| Alomere Health Alexandria · Alexandria, MN LUMBAR PUNCTURE | $837.52 | $1,444.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Johnson Memorial Hospital Dawson · Dawson, MN LUMBAR PUNCTURE | $869.55 | $1,023.00 | Sep 8, 2026 source file |
| Aitkin Community Hospital Aitkin · Aitkin, MN HC SPINAL PUNCTURE,LUMBAR,DIAGNOSTIC | $890.12 | $1,589.50 | Aug 12, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Worthington Medical Center Worthington · Worthington, MN ED 62270 SPINAL TAP LUMBAR DIAG | $896.80 | $1,121.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| New Ulm Medical Center New Ulm · New Ulm, MN HCHG LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNOSTIC | $904.29 | $1,614.80 | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Ada Ada · Ada, MN SPINAL PUNCTURE,LUMBAR,DX(T) | $930.40 | $1,259.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Deer River Deer River · Grand Rapids, MN SPINAL PUNCTURE,LUMBAR,DX(T) | $930.40 | $1,259.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Fosston Fosston · Grand Forks, ND-MN SPINAL PUNCTURE,LUMBAR,DX(T) | $930.40 | $1,259.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Holy Trinity Hospital Graceville · Graceville, MN SPINAL PUNCTURE,LUMBAR,DX(T) | $930.40 | $1,259.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Moose Lake Moose Lake · Duluth, MN-WI SPINAL PUNCTURE,LUMBAR,DX(T) | $930.40 | $1,259.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Northern Pines Aurora · Duluth, MN-WI SPINAL PUNCTURE,LUMBAR,DX(T) | $930.40 | $1,259.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Essentia Health Sandstone Sandstone · Sandstone, MN SPINAL PUNCTURE,LUMBAR,DX(T) | $930.40 | $1,259.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Tracy Hospital Tracy · Marshall, MN ED 62270 SPINAL TAP LUMBAR DIAG | $992.80 | $1,241.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Westbrook Hospital Westbrook · Westbrook, MN ED 62270 SPINAL TAP LUMBAR DIAG | $992.80 | $1,241.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Lake View Hospital Two Harbors · Two Harbors, MN Spinal Puncture, Lumbar, Diagnostic | $1,072.37 | $1,303.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Luverne Medical Center Luverne · Sioux Falls, SD-MN SURG 62270 SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $1,175.20 | $1,469.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center Thief River Falls · Thief River Falls, MN ED 62270 SPINAL TAP LUMBAR DIAG | $1,176.80 | $1,471.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Wheaton Wheaton · Wheaton, MN ED 62270 SPINAL TAP LUMBAR DIAG | $1,243.20 | $1,554.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| The Cook Hospital Cook · Duluth, MN-WI SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR/DIAGNOS | $1,254.00 | $1,900.00 | Aug 10, 2026 source file |
| Stevens Community Medical Center Morris · Morris, MN Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $1,256.25 | $1,675.00 | Jun 26, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Jackson Hospital Jackson · Jackson, MN SURG 62270 SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $1,299.20 | $1,624.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Bagley Medical Center Bagley · Bagley, MN SURG 62270 SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAG | $1,302.40 | $1,628.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Bemidji Medical Center Bemidji · Bemidji, MN ED 62270 SPINAL TAP LUMBAR DIAG | $1,302.40 | $1,628.00 | Mar 4, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 20 | $335.40 | $667.50 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 11 | $244.80 | $762.96 |
| Grand Rapids, MN | 3 | $562.82 | $792.20 |
| Faribault-Northfield, MN | 2 | $186.00 | $361.72 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 2 | $647.00 | $788.70 |
| Hutchinson, MN | 2 | $397.90 | $515.38 |
| Ada, MN | 1 | $930.40 | $930.40 |
| Aitkin, MN | 1 | $890.12 | $890.12 |
| Alexandria, MN | 1 | $837.52 | $837.52 |
| Bagley, MN | 1 | $1,302.40 | $1,302.40 |
| Baudette, MN | 1 | $306.32 | $306.32 |
| Bemidji, MN | 1 | $1,302.40 | $1,302.40 |
| Brainerd, MN | 1 | $667.62 | $667.62 |
| Dawson, MN | 1 | $869.55 | $869.55 |
| Detroit Lakes, MN | 1 | $742.15 | $742.15 |
| Fergus Falls, MN | 1 | $479.70 | $479.70 |
| Glenwood, MN | 1 | $442.36 | $442.36 |
| Graceville, MN | 1 | $930.40 | $930.40 |
| Hallock, MN | 1 | $230.00 | $230.00 |
| International Falls, MN | 1 | $145.43 | $145.43 |
| Jackson, MN | 1 | $1,299.20 | $1,299.20 |
| Litchfield, MN | 1 | $249.60 | $249.60 |
| Madison, MN | 1 | $456.45 | $456.45 |
| Mahnomen, MN | 1 | $573.30 | $573.30 |
| Morris, MN | 1 | $1,256.25 | $1,256.25 |
| Marshall, MN | 1 | $992.80 | $992.80 |
| New Ulm, MN | 1 | $904.29 | $904.29 |
| Olivia, MN | 1 | $632.57 | $632.57 |
| Ortonville, MN | 1 | $135.15 | $135.15 |
| Owatonna, MN | 1 | $537.43 | $537.43 |
| Park Rapids, MN | 1 | $306.32 | $306.32 |
| Roseau, MN | 1 | $627.44 | $627.44 |
| Rochester, MN | 1 | $671.12 | $671.12 |
| Sandstone, MN | 1 | $930.40 | $930.40 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 1 | $1,175.20 | $1,175.20 |
| Thief River Falls, MN | 1 | $1,176.80 | $1,176.80 |
| Two Harbors, MN | 1 | $1,072.37 | $1,072.37 |
| Wadena, MN | 1 | $173.67 | $173.67 |
| Westbrook, MN | 1 | $992.80 | $992.80 |
| Wheaton, MN | 1 | $1,243.20 | $1,243.20 |
| Windom, MN | 1 | $671.84 | $671.84 |
| Wahpeton, ND-MN | 1 | $333.67 | $333.67 |
| Worthington, MN | 1 | $896.80 | $896.80 |
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
- 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
- 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.