Prices at 7 hospitals in Brooklyn, NY, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $3,661 — 65% above the US median ($2,221), roughly 13.6× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Hospital Center-Downtown Campus | Brooklyn, NY | $7,088 | $423 | ★ 2/5 | 193 min | 16.4% |
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 $3,661 — about 13.6× 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 Brooklyn