CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast cost in Alabama

Prices at 26 hospitals in Alabama, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $930 — 47% below the US median ($1,754), roughly 4.7× the Medicare rate.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
The East Alabama Healthcare Authority Opelika, AL $345 $154 ★ 3/5 202 min 14.4%
Eamc-Lanier Valley, AL $345 $154
Southeast Health Medical Center Dothan, AL $471 $168 ★ 4/5 217 min 15.1%
St. Vincent's East Birmingham, AL $693 $277 ★ 3/5 156 min 14.6%
St Vincent's Birmingham Birmingham, AL $693 $277 ★ 3/5 245 min 15.3%
St Vincent's St Clair Pell City, AL $693 $277 ★ 3/5 156 min 15.8%
St Vincent's Chilton Clanton, AL $693 $277 164 min 14.8%
Tanner Medical Center-East Alabama Wedowee, AL $703 $316 94 min 14.6%
Grove Hill Memorial Hospital Grove Hill, AL $720 $300 162 min
Coosa Valley Medical Center Sylacauga, AL $799 $672 ★ 3/5 122 min 15.1%
Usa Health HCA Providence Hospital, Llc Mobile, AL $865 $253 ★ 3/5 200 min 14.4%
Springhill Medical Center Mobile, AL $930 $842 ★ 3/5 146 min 15.6%
Russellville Hospital Russellville, AL $1,006 $3,870 ★ 4/5 103 min 16.3%
Usa Health University Hospital Mobile, AL $1,283 $216 ★ 2/5 214 min 15.7%
Usa Health Children's & Women's Hospital Mobile, AL $1,283 $226
Floyd Cherokee Medical Center Centre, AL $1,492 $181 128 min 15.1%
Marion Regional Medical Center Hamilton, AL $1,535 $291 ★ 3/5 103 min 14.8%
Northwest Medical Center Winfield, AL $1,535 $275 ★ 4/5 134 min 13.8%
Bibb Medical Center Centreville, AL $1,672 $243 126 min 14.7%
Cullman Regional Medical Center Cullman, AL $1,799 $163 ★ 2/5 158 min 16.6%
Ochsner Choctaw General Butler, AL $2,058 $1,231 121 min
Red Bay Hospital Red Bay, AL $3,120 $241 131 min 15.0%
Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center Anniston, AL $3,206 $170 ★ 1/5 232 min 15.7%

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 June 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)

Chargemaster (list price)
$1,873
Cash / self-pay
$930
Insurer-negotiated
$277
Medicare pays
$197
$516$2,006
Median cash $930  ·  Medicare $197  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $930 — about 4.7× the Medicare rate ($197). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($393).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $1,873 list price could save about $944 (50%).

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Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.

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CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast cost in other states

All CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast prices (national) → · All hospitals in Alabama →