Price Checker / CPT 78630
How much does Cerebrospinal Fluid Scan cost?
CPT 78630 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is roughly 4.4x the fair price. This is well above fair — push back or dispute it.
Fair price
$440–$880
What this should cost
With insurance
~$148,700
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,100
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $2,872 is $2,212 over the fair price (about 4.4x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Cerebrospinal Fluid Scan
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23330 Emergency Center, LLC d/b/a/ Elite Hospital Kingwood Kingwood, TX | $5,828 | — | 1878% |
| Kindred Hospital Aurora Aurora, CO | $4,870 | — | 1553% |
| Kindred Hospital Denver Denver, CO | $4,870 | — | 1553% |
| UM Shore Medical Center at Easton Easton, MD | $3,739 | — | 1169% |
| Kindred Hospital Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN | $3,411 | — | 1058% |
| Kindred Hospital Indianapolis North Indianapolis, IN | $3,411 | — | 1058% |
| University of Maryland Medical Center - Midtown Campus BALTIMORE, MD | $3,010 | — | 922% |
| UM Capital Region Medical Center Largo, MD | $2,568 | — | 772% |
| UM Laurel Medical Center Laurel, MD | $2,532 | — | 759% |
| Frederick Health Hospital FREDERICK, MD | $1,972 | — | 569% |
| Meritus Medical Center, Inc. HAGERSTOWN, MD | $1,695 | — | 476% |
| UM Charles Regional Medical Center La Plata, MD | $1,609 | — | 446% |
| UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center Bel Air, MD | $1,540 | — | 423% |
| UM St. Joseph Medical Center Towson, MD | $1,169 | — | 297% |
| UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center Glen Burnie, MD | $863 | — | 193% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About Cerebrospinal Fluid Scan
CPT code 78630 refers to cerebrospinal fluid scan (billing description: "Cerebrospinal fluid scan"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $295 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $295 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.