Prices at 5 hospitals in Baton Rouge, LA, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $2,221 — about the US median ($2,176), roughly 8.2× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ochsner Medical Center-Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge, LA | $551 | $405 | ★ 4/5 | 197 min | — |
| Surgical Specialty Center of Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge, LA | $1,848 | $500 | — | — | — |
| Baton Rouge General Medical Center | Baton Rouge, LA | $2,221 | $608 | ★ 3/5 | 210 min | — |
| The General | Baton Rouge, LA | $2,221 | $608 | — | 180 min | — |
| Womans Hospital | Baton Rouge, LA | $4,413 | $3,530 | ★ 4/5 | 147 min | — |
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 October 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 $2,221 — about 8.2× the Medicare rate ($271). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($542).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,173 list price could save about $952 (30%).
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 mid-back (thoracic spine) with contrast prices in Louisiana → · All MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) with contrast prices (national) · All hospitals in Baton Rouge