Spinal tap cost in Washington
In Washington, 57 hospitals publish a cash price for spinal tap (lumbar puncture), diagnostic: from $98.70 to $3,396.79, with a median of $992.00. The lowest price is at Providence St Joseph Hospital (Chewelah). The highest price is 34.4× the lowest.
- The median here, $992.00, is 15% above the US median of $859.25.
- That is 1.4× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($721.17).
- Washington ranks 33rd of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 5 of 57 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Washington law (RCW 70.170.060) requires hospital charity care: patients with family income up to 300% of the federal poverty level owe nothing at hospitals in large health systems (200% at other hospitals), with 75% and 50% discounts up to 400% (300% at other hospitals). It covers the part of the bill a patient owes, insured or not. Ask the hospital for its charity care application. 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$98.70Providence St Joseph Hospital
Median$992.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$3,396.79in Washington
Lowest saves$893.30vs the median
Hospitals in Washington, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence St Joseph Hospital lowest Chewelah · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $98.70 | $141.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Mount Carmel Hospital Colville · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC PR 62270 ANES/SPINAL PUNC | $157.50 | $225.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence St Mary Medical Center Walla Walla · Walla Walla, WA HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $252.70 | $361.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Regional Medical Center Everett Everett · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC PR ED 62270 SPINAL FLUID TAP DIAGNOSTIC CDM | $260.52 | $501.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Prosser Memorial Health Hospital Prosser · Kennewick-Richland, WA HC ED SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC CDM | $265.65 | $483.00 | Jan 1, 2025 source file |
| Astria Toppenish Hospital Toppenish · Yakima, WA 62270 Spinal puncture, lumbar, diagnostic | $337.35 | $519.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center Friday Harbor · Friday Harbor, WA REMOVAL OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID WITH LOWER BACK SPINAL TAP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST | $352.95 | $543.00 | Mar 20, 2026 source file |
| Cascade Medical Center Leavenworth · Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA Spinal puncture, lumb, diag | $383.20 | $479.00 | May 15, 2026 source file |
| Quincy Valley Medical Center Quincy · Moses Lake, WA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $433.01 | $433.01 | May 27, 2026 source file |
| Othello Community Hospital Othello · Othello, WA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $474.75 | $633.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Skagit Valley Hospital Mount Vernon · Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA HC LUMBAR PUNCTURE,DIAGNOSTIC | $620.80 | $776.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Astria Sunnyside Hospital Sunnyside · Kennewick-Richland, WA SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DX | $641.25 | $1,125.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Willapa Harbor Hospital South Bend · South Bend, WA REMOVAL OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID WITH LOWER BACK SPINAL TAP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST | $690.20 | $986.00 | Feb 24, 2026 source file |
| Ocean Beach Hospital Ilwaco · Ilwaco, WA HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $705.00 | $940.00 | Oct 23, 2026 source file |
| St Joseph Medical Center Tacoma · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNOSTIC | $714.03 | $2,155.89 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Arbor Health Morton Hospital Morton · Centralia, WA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $721.06 | $1,163.00 | May 18, 2026 source file |
| Saint Clare Hospital Lakewood · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNOSTIC | $746.11 | $2,587.06 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Confluence Health Hospital Wenatchee · Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA HC Spinal Puncture,Lumbar,Diagnostic--Pbb | $758.70 | $843.00 | Aug 10, 2026 source file |
| St Anthony Hospital Gig Harbor · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNOSTIC | $786.73 | $2,587.06 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Highline Medical Center Burien · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNOSTIC | $787.51 | $2,587.06 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| St Francis Community Hospital Federal Way · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNOSTIC | $795.53 | $2,587.06 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Summit Pacific Medical Center Elma · Aberdeen, WA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $804.06 | $1,489.00 | Aug 31, 2026 source file |
| Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Snoqualmie · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Facility Fee HC LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNOSTIC | $847.75 | $1,461.64 | Apr 14, 2026 source file |
| Lincoln Hospital Davenport · Davenport, WA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $905.51 | $1,006.12 | Sep 14, 2026 source file |
| Forks Community Hospital Forks · Port Townsend, WA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $907.20 | $1,134.00 | Oct 27, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Hospital Enumclaw · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNOSTIC | $949.97 | $2,587.06 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| St. Michael Medical Center Silverdale · Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA HC LUMBAR PUNCTURE DIAGNOSTIC | $951.50 | $2,155.89 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| East Adams Rural Healthcare Ritzville · Othello, WA HC SPINAL PUNCTURE, LUMBAR, DIAGNOSTIC | $979.44 | $1,305.92 | Jun 1, 2026 source file |
| Klickitat Valley Hospital Goldendale · Goldendale, WA LUMBAR PUNCTURE | $992.00 | $1,240.00 | Dec 2, 2024 source file |
| Prov Sacred Hrt Medical Center & Childs Hospital Spokane · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,061.90 | $1,517.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Vancouver · Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA HC LUMBAR PUNCTURE | $1,081.60 | $1,664.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Whitman Hospital and Medical Center Colfax · Pullman, WA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $1,110.40 | $1,388.00 | Jun 29, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Issaquah Issaquah · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,163.52 | $2,424.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Medical Center Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,163.52 | $2,424.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Medical Center / Cherry Hill Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,163.52 | $2,424.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Overlake Medical Center & Clinics Bellevue · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Hc Lumbar Puncture Diagnostic | $1,181.00 | $2,362.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Pullman Regional Hospital Pullman · Pullman, WA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $1,309.85 | $1,541.00 | Jun 9, 2026 source file |
| Kittitas County Public Hospital Dist 1 Ellensburg · Ellensburg, WA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $1,310.70 | $1,542.00 | Oct 7, 2026 source file |
| Providence Holy Family Hospital Spokane · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC ED SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC CDM | $1,349.60 | $1,928.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Jefferson Healthcare Port Townsend · Port Townsend, WA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $1,363.20 | $1,704.00 | Aug 6, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Vancouver · Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $1,463.80 | $2,252.00 | Mar 20, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth St John Medical Center Longview · Longview-Kelso, WA DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $1,463.80 | $2,252.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth United General Medical Center Sedro Woolley · Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA REMOVAL OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID WITH LOWER BACK SPINAL TAP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST | $1,465.10 | $2,254.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| Olympic Medical Center Port Angeles · Port Angeles, WA Remove cerebrospinal fluid w/ lower back spinal tap | $1,492.00 | $1,865.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center Bellingham · Bellingham, WA DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $1,509.30 | $2,322.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| Virginia Mason Medical Center Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA SPINAL PUNCT, LUMB, DIAG | $1,530.00 | $3,000.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Valley Medical Center Renton · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Diagnostic Lumbar Spinal Puncture | $1,538.60 | $2,198.00 | Mar 12, 2026 source file |
| Cascade Valley Hospital Arlington · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC LUMBAR PUNCTURE ED | $1,544.00 | $1,930.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics Shelton · Shelton, WA 62270-Lumbar Puncture Diagnostic | $1,612.20 | $2,149.60 | Mar 10, 2026 source file |
| Providence Centralia Hospital Centralia · Centralia, WA HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,661.40 | $3,195.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence St Peter Hospital Olympia · Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA HC DIAGNOSTIC LUMBAR SPINAL PUNCTURE | $1,661.40 | $3,195.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kadlec Regional Medical Center Richland · Kennewick-Richland, WA HC ED SPINAL PUNCTURE LUMBAR DIAGNOSTIC CDM | $1,851.50 | $2,645.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ferry County Memorial Hospital Republic · Republic, WA SPINAL PUNCTURE | $2,038.67 | $2,398.44 | Sep 14, 2026 source file |
| Lake Chelan Community Hospital Chelan · Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA Removal of cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap for diagnostic test | $2,210.62 | $2,210.62 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Samaritan Hospital Moses Lake · Moses Lake, WA Remove cerebrospinal fluid with lower back spinal tap | $2,679.00 | $2,679.00 | Jan 4, 2026 source file |
| Seattle Children's Hospital Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Spinal Lumbar Puncture | $2,915.90 | $2,915.90 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Shriners Childrens - Spokane Spokane · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA DX LMBR SPI PNXR | $3,396.79 | $3,396.79 | Mar 18, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 16 | $260.52 | $1,056.74 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 5 | $98.70 | $1,061.90 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 3 | $265.65 | $641.25 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 3 | $383.20 | $758.70 |
| Centralia, WA | 2 | $721.06 | $1,191.23 |
| Moses Lake, WA | 2 | $433.01 | $1,556.00 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 2 | $620.80 | $1,042.95 |
| Othello, WA | 2 | $474.75 | $727.10 |
| Port Townsend, WA | 2 | $907.20 | $1,135.20 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2 | $1,081.60 | $1,272.70 |
| Pullman, WA | 2 | $1,110.40 | $1,210.12 |
| Aberdeen, WA | 1 | $804.06 | $804.06 |
| Bellingham, WA | 1 | $1,509.30 | $1,509.30 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 1 | $951.50 | $951.50 |
| Davenport, WA | 1 | $905.51 | $905.51 |
| Ellensburg, WA | 1 | $1,310.70 | $1,310.70 |
| Friday Harbor, WA | 1 | $352.95 | $352.95 |
| Goldendale, WA | 1 | $992.00 | $992.00 |
| Ilwaco, WA | 1 | $705.00 | $705.00 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 1 | $1,463.80 | $1,463.80 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 1 | $1,661.40 | $1,661.40 |
| Port Angeles, WA | 1 | $1,492.00 | $1,492.00 |
| Republic, WA | 1 | $2,038.67 | $2,038.67 |
| South Bend, WA | 1 | $690.20 | $690.20 |
| Shelton, WA | 1 | $1,612.20 | $1,612.20 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 1 | $252.70 | $252.70 |
| Yakima, WA | 1 | $337.35 | $337.35 |
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
- 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
- West Virginia$1,005.50
- Wisconsin$605.00
- Wyoming$725.76
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.