Prices at 4 hospitals in Albuquerque, NM, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $1,518 — 81% above the US median ($838), roughly 9.2× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unm Hospital | Albuquerque, NM | $721 | $695 | ★ 2/5 | 273 min | — |
| Lovelace Medical Center | Albuquerque, NM | $1,518 | $2,075 | ★ 2/5 | 212 min | — |
| Lovelace Women's Hospital | Albuquerque, NM | $1,518 | $2,075 | ★ 4/5 | 205 min | — |
| Lovelace Westside Hospital | Albuquerque, NM | $1,518 | $2,075 | ★ 4/5 | 159 min | — |
CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated September 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $1,518 — about 9.2× the Medicare rate ($165). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($330).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $5,061 list price could save about $3,543 (70%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
All Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) prices in New Mexico → · All Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) prices (national) · All hospitals in Albuquerque