Prices at 3 hospitals in Winston-salem, NC, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $2,200 — 18% below the US median ($2,681), roughly 6.9× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center | Winston-salem, NC | $1,799 | $692 | ★ 4/5 | 197 min | 14.2% |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital | Winston-salem, NC | $2,602 | $1,752 | ★ 4/5 | 187 min | 15.1% |
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)
Typical cash price here is $2,200 — about 6.9× the Medicare rate ($319). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($637).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $4,100 list price could save about $1,900 (46%).
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 North Carolina → · All MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) with and without contrast prices (national) · All hospitals in Winston-salem