Spinal tap cost in New Jersey
In New Jersey, 54 hospitals publish a cash price for spinal tap (lumbar puncture), diagnostic: from $109.30 to $6,839.00, with a median of $943.92. The lowest price is at Virtua Memorial Hospital (Mount Holly) and 4 other hospitals. The highest price is 62.6× the lowest.
- The median here, $943.92, is 10% above the US median of $859.25.
- That is 1.3× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($721.17).
- New Jersey ranks 31st of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 15 of 54 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Why New Jersey prices look low: under state law (P.L.2008, c.60), a hospital may not charge an uninsured New Jersey resident whose family income is below 500% of the federal poverty level more than 115% of what Medicare pays for the same service. If that is you, ask the hospital's billing office to apply this limit; a separate physician fee may still apply. 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
Hospitals in New Jersey, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtua Memorial Hospital lowest Mount Holly · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD HC Spinal Puncture Lumbar | $109.30 | $1,093.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes lowest Camden · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD HC Spinal Puncture Lumbar | $109.30 | $1,093.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Virtua West Jersey Hospital - Marlton lowest Voorhees · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD HC Spinal Puncture Lumbar | $109.30 | $1,093.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Virtua West Jersey Hospital - Voorhees lowest Voorhees · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD HC Spinal Puncture Lumbar | $109.30 | $1,093.00 | Jun 1, 2026 source file |
| Virtua Willingboro Hospital lowest Willinboro · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD HC Spinal Puncture Lumbar | $109.30 | $1,093.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Atlanticare Regional Medical Center - Mainland Division Pomona · Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ SPINAL FLUID TAP, DIAGNOSTIC | $212.10 | $1,414.00 | Mar 18, 2026 source file |
| The Valley Hospital Paramus · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ BEDSIDE - LUMBAR PUNCTURE | $668.40 | $1,114.00 | May 6, 2026 source file |
| JFK University Medical Center Edison · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $692.52 | $2,849.00 | Dec 31, 2025 source file |
| Ocean Medical Center Brick · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $692.52 | $2,849.00 | Dec 31, 2025 source file |
| Southern Ocean Medical Center Manahawkin · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $756.84 | $1,934.00 | Dec 31, 2025 source file |
| Bayshore Medical Center Holmdel · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $766.52 | $1,934.00 | Dec 31, 2025 source file |
| Jersey Shore University Medical Center Neptune City · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $766.52 | $2,849.00 | Dec 31, 2025 source file |
| Riverview Medical Center Red Bank · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $766.52 | $1,934.00 | Dec 31, 2025 source file |
| Old Bridge Medical Center Old Bridge · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $767.19 | $1,934.00 | Dec 31, 2025 source file |
| Raritan Bay Medical Center Perth Amboy · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $767.19 | $1,934.00 | Dec 31, 2025 source file |
| Newton Medical Center Newton · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Punc Spinal Lumbar Dx | $803.54 | $3,663.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Hackensack University Medical Center Hackensack · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $815.55 | $2,849.00 | Dec 31, 2025 source file |
| Palisades Medical Center North Bergen · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $815.55 | $1,934.00 | Dec 31, 2025 source file |
| Saint Marys Hospital Passaic · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Hc Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic | $834.00 | $2,839.01 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center Montclair · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $893.50 | $9,961.00 | Feb 12, 2026 source file |
| Shore Memorial Hospital Somers Point · Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $913.29 | — | Aug 30, 2026 source file |
| CentraState Medical Center Freehold Township · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Punc Spinal Lumbar Dx | $924.08 | $2,211.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Chilton Medical Center Pompton Plains · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Punc Spinal Lumbar Dx | $924.08 | $3,699.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Hackettstown Medical Center Hackettstown · Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Punc Spinal Lumbar Dx | $924.08 | $1,918.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Morristown Medical Center Morristown · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Punc Spinal Lumbar Dx | $924.08 | $3,699.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Overlook Medical Center Summit · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Punc Spinal Lumbar Dx | $924.08 | $6,881.29 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Englewood Health Englewood · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Spinal Puncture Lumbar Diagnostic | $941.80 | $9,418.00 | Feb 2, 2026 source file |
| University Hospital Newark · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $946.04 | $2,456.38 | Aug 13, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Health Center Bridgeton Bridgeton · Vineland, NJ LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Health Center Woodbury Woodbury · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Lumbar Puncture | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Elmer Elmer · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DX | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mannington Salem · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill Mullica Hill · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Lumbar Puncture | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Vineland Vineland · Vineland, NJ LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Saint Peters University Hospital New Brunswick · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 62270 SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC | $1,597.00 | $2,419.00 | Nov 19, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases Middletown · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ HC Lumbar Puncture for Dx | $2,742.00 | $2,742.00 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases Basking Ridge · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ HC Lumbar Puncture for Dx | $2,742.00 | $2,742.00 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| St Luke's Warren Hospital Phillipsburg · Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ HB SPINAL FLUID TAP DIAGNOSTIC | $3,263.40 | $3,626.00 | Feb 27, 2026 source file |
| Capital Health Medical Center - Hopewell Pennington · Trenton-Princeton, NJ LUMBAR PUNC.FOR DIAG PROC | $3,434.00 | $3,434.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| Capital Health Regional Medical Center Trenton · Trenton-Princeton, NJ LUMBAR PUNC.FOR DIAG PROC | $3,434.00 | $3,434.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| Community Medical Center Toms River · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $3,786.00 | — | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Clara Maass Medical Center Belleville · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ HC Lumbar Puncture Diagnostic | $3,986.00 | $898.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Hudson Regional Hospital Secaucus · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $4,204.50 | $4,204.50 | Sep 23, 2026 source file |
| Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus Lakewood · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ HC Lumbar Puncture Diagnostic | $4,350.00 | $2,405.00 | Mar 3, 2026 source file |
| Holy Name Teaneck · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ LUMBAR PUNCTURE;DIAGNOSTIC | $4,500.00 | $2,255.00 | Nov 10, 2025 source file |
| Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway Rahway · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $4,627.00 | — | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Newark · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $4,881.00 | — | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Hamilton Township · Trenton-Princeton, NJ HC Lumbar Puncture Diagnostic | $5,110.00 | $898.00 | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Jersey City Medical Center Jersey City · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $5,339.00 | — | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Monmouth Medical Center Long Branch · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $5,419.00 | — | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick New Brunswick · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $5,741.00 | — | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Trinitas Regional Medical Center Elizabeth · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $5,855.00 | — | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset Somerville · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $6,311.00 | — | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center Livingston · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $6,839.00 | — | Mar 4, 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 York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 36 | $668.40 | $932.94 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 9 | $109.30 | $109.30 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 3 | $3,434.00 | $3,434.00 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 2 | $924.08 | $2,093.74 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 2 | $212.10 | $562.70 |
| Vineland, NJ | 2 | $1,501.07 | $1,501.07 |
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
- Minnesota$742.15
- Mississippi$476.70
- Missouri$667.93
- Montana$436.00
- Nebraska$508.80
- Nevada$785.35
- New Hampshire$548.50
- 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.