Prices at 3 hospitals in Saint Paul, MN, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $650 — 58% below the US median ($1,543), roughly 3.9× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allina United Hospital | Saint Paul, MN | $648 | $542 | ★ 3/5 | 176 min | 14.9% |
| Regions Hospital | Saint Paul, MN | $650 | $308 | ★ 3/5 | 226 min | 14.1% |
| Gillette Childrens Specialty Hospital | Saint Paul, MN | $1,824 | $169 | — | — | — |
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 $650 — about 3.9× the Medicare rate ($169). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($337).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $2,499 list price could save about $1,849 (74%).
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 Minnesota → · All CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) prices (national) · All hospitals in Saint Paul