Prices at 4 hospitals in Aurora, CO, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $2,322 — 32% above the US median ($1,754), roughly 11.8× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Hospital Authority | Aurora, CO | $1,462 | $858 | ★ 5/5 | 103 min | 14.3% |
| VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System | Aurora, CO | $2,322 | $2,322 | ★ 5/5 | — | 13.4% |
| Children's Hospital Colorado | Aurora, CO | $2,322 | $2,322 | — | — | — |
| The Medical Center of Aurora & South Hospital | Aurora, CO | $10,804 | $729 | ★ 4/5 | 140 min | 13.5% |
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)
Typical cash price here is $2,322 — about 11.8× 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 $3,876 list price could save about $1,553 (40%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
All CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast prices in Colorado → · All CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast prices (national) · All hospitals in Aurora