MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast cost in Alabama

Prices at 27 hospitals in Alabama, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $1,183 — 46% below the US median ($2,210), roughly 4.4× the Medicare rate.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
Riverview Regional Medical Center Gadsden, AL $311 $311 ★ 3/5 160 min 15.7%
Medical Center Barbour Eufaula, AL $458 $343 170 min
The East Alabama Healthcare Authority Opelika, AL $488 $323 ★ 3/5 202 min 14.4%
Eamc-Lanier Valley, AL $488 $323
St. Vincent's East Birmingham, AL $622 $502 ★ 3/5 156 min 14.6%
St Vincent's Birmingham Birmingham, AL $622 $502 ★ 3/5 245 min 15.3%
St Vincent's St Clair Pell City, AL $622 $502 ★ 3/5 156 min 15.8%
St Vincent's Chilton Clanton, AL $622 $502 164 min 14.8%
Grove Hill Memorial Hospital Grove Hill, AL $869 $621 162 min
Usa Health HCA Providence Hospital, Llc Mobile, AL $896 $305 ★ 3/5 200 min 14.4%
Russellville Hospital Russellville, AL $918 $3,530 ★ 4/5 103 min 16.3%
Southeast Health Medical Center Dothan, AL $1,183 $334 ★ 4/5 217 min 15.1%
Coosa Valley Medical Center Sylacauga, AL $1,216 $1,074 ★ 3/5 122 min 15.1%
Marion Regional Medical Center Hamilton, AL $1,475 $579 ★ 3/5 103 min 14.8%
Northwest Medical Center Winfield, AL $1,475 $546 ★ 4/5 134 min 13.8%
The Children's Hospital of Alabama Birmingham, AL $1,565 $2,948
Springhill Medical Center Mobile, AL $1,604 $998 ★ 3/5 146 min 15.6%
Cullman Regional Medical Center Cullman, AL $1,651 $327 ★ 2/5 158 min 16.6%
Ochsner Choctaw General Butler, AL $1,837 $1,109 121 min
Usa Health University Hospital Mobile, AL $1,878 $323 ★ 2/5 214 min 15.7%
Usa Health Children's & Women's Hospital Mobile, AL $1,878 $323
Red Bay Hospital Red Bay, AL $2,704 $397 131 min 15.0%
Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center Anniston, AL $4,380 $357 ★ 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 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)

Chargemaster (list price)
$2,723
Cash / self-pay
$1,183
Insurer-negotiated
$502
Medicare pays
$270
$488$1,878
Median cash $1,183  ·  Medicare $270  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,183 — about 4.4× the Medicare rate ($270). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($539).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $2,723 list price could save about $1,540 (57%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
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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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MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast cost in other states

All MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast prices (national) → · All hospitals in Alabama →