Prices at 4 hospitals in New Orleans, LA, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $980 — 63% below the US median ($2,681), roughly 3.1× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ochsner Medical Center Acute | New Orleans, LA | $835 | $1,119 | ★ 4/5 | 174 min | — |
| New Orleans East Hospital | New Orleans, LA | $977 | $649 | — | 140 min | — |
| University Medical Center New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $984 | $618 | ★ 2/5 | 327 min | — |
| Childrens Hospital | New Orleans, LA | $1,206 | $1,262 | — | — | — |
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 September 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 $980 — about 3.1× the Medicare rate ($319). On the higher side. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($637).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $4,471 list price could save about $3,490 (78%).
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 and without contrast prices in Louisiana → · All MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) with and without contrast prices (national) · All hospitals in New Orleans