Prices at 6 hospitals in Bronx, NY, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $1,428 — 36% below the US median ($2,221), roughly 5.3× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronxcare Hospital Center | Bronx, NY | $978 | $413 | ★ 1/5 | 184 min | 16.7% |
| Montefiore Medical Center | Bronx, NY | $1,878 | $505 | ★ 3/5 | 200 min | 15.5% |
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 $1,428 — about 5.3× the Medicare rate ($270). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($539).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
All MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast prices in New York → · All MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast prices (national) · All hospitals in Bronx