Prices at 3 hospitals in Newark, NJ, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $234 — 85% below the US median ($1,543), roughly 1.4× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Michael's Medical Center | Newark, NJ | $203 | $268 | ★ 4/5 | 176 min | 16.0% |
| The University Hospital | Newark, NJ | $234 | $515 | ★ 1/5 | 294 min | 15.6% |
| Newark Beth Israel Medical Center | Newark, NJ | $506 | $321 | ★ 2/5 | 169 min | 14.9% |
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 August 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 $234 — about 1.4× the Medicare rate ($169). Reasonable. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($337).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $2,428 list price could save about $2,194 (90%).
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) prices in New Jersey → · All CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) prices (national) · All hospitals in Newark