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

Prices at 26 hospitals in Massachusetts, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $3,566 — 61% above the US median ($2,210), roughly 13.2× the Medicare rate.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
Sturdy Memorial Hospital Attleboro, MA $1,038 ★ 3/5 197 min 16.2%
Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital Brockton, MA $1,273 $513 ★ 3/5 210 min
Cape Cod Hospital Hyannis, MA $1,368 $495 ★ 2/5 202 min 16.5%
Falmouth Hospital Falmouth, MA $1,368 $495 ★ 4/5 160 min 16.0%
Tufts Medical Center Boston, MA $1,719 $1,191 ★ 2/5 211 min 17.2%
Mercy Medical Ctr Springfield, MA $1,775 $441 ★ 2/5 278 min 15.7%
Holyoke Medical Center Holyoke, MA $1,942 $454 ★ 4/5 267 min 16.2%
Emerson Hospital W Concord, MA $1,983 $599 ★ 5/5 210 min 13.5%
Cambridge Health Alliance Cambridge, MA $1,993 $1,993 ★ 3/5 164 min 14.9%
Martha's Vineyard Hospital Inc Oak Bluffs, MA $2,466 $1,644 ★ 4/5 157 min 17.0%
Milford Regional Medical Center Milford, MA $3,249 ★ 4/5 274 min 17.2%
Newton-Wellesley Hospital Newton, MA $3,431 $1,168 ★ 5/5 263 min 15.1%
Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA $3,701 $1,618 ★ 5/5 283 min 14.3%
Boston Medical Center-Brighton Brighton, MA $3,945 $507 ★ 3/5 148 min 16.4%
Umass Memorial Healthalliance Hospitals Leominster, MA $4,069 $1,178 ★ 3/5 253 min 15.5%
Umass Memorial Health-Harrington Hospital Southbridge, MA $4,069 $1,178 ★ 3/5 215 min 16.0%
Umass Memorial Healthcare-Marlborough Hospital Marlborough, MA $4,069 $1,178 ★ 2/5 236 min 16.3%
Umass Memorial Medical Center/university Campus Worcester, MA $4,069 $1,178 ★ 3/5 296 min 14.9%
Berkshire Medical Center Pittsfield, MA $4,230 $1,975 ★ 4/5 248 min 14.9%
North Adams Regional Hospital Corporation North Adams, MA $4,230 $1,846 153 min
Adcare Hospital of Worcester Inc Worcester, MA $5,532 $765 16.4%
St Vincent Hospital Worcester, MA $5,532 $765 ★ 2/5 220 min 14.8%
The Shriners' Hospital for Children-Boston Boston, MA $8,072 $425
North Shore Medical Center Salem, MA $9,625 $363 ★ 5/5 276 min 15.9%

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)

Chargemaster (list price)
$4,069
Cash / self-pay
$3,566
Insurer-negotiated
$831
Medicare pays
$270
$1,368$5,532
Median cash $3,566  ·  Medicare $270  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $3,566 — about 13.2× 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 $4,069 list price could save about $503 (12%).

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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

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