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Chemotherapy Delivered Into The Spinal Fluid

Louisiana rates for HCPCS 96450

This service delivers chemotherapy medication directly into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord and brain by way of a spinal puncture, commonly called a spinal tap. Giving chemotherapy this way, known as intrathecal administration, treats or prevents cancer that has spread to, or is at risk of spreading to, the central nervous system. The spinal puncture itself is included as part of this administration service.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Chemotherapy Delivered Into The Spinal Fluid cost?

$158

Typical negotiated rate. In Louisiana, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $158 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $145 from a physician practice, and about $302 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$145$91.20 to $224
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$302$148 to $380

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $302 · 10th to 90th $123 to $501Professionalmedian $145 · 10th to 90th $76 to $302
$100$200$500$1Kfacility $302professional $145

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$501.19
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$213.80
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$380.19
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$380.19
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$245.47
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$128.82
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$309.03
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$891.25
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$269.15

Where Louisiana sits

The same service costs 1.7 times more in Minnesota than in Delaware. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Louisiana· 38th of 51

$158

MN $240DE $138

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.