Prices at 4 hospitals in Hawaii, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $1,527 — 20% below the US median ($1,920), roughly 8.0× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kau Hospital | Pahala, HI | $533 | — | — | 79 min | — |
| Kona Community Hospital | Kealakekua, HI | $1,044 | $337 | ★ 2/5 | 179 min | — |
| North Hawaii Community Hospital, Inc | Kamuela, HI | $2,010 | $300 | ★ 3/5 | 135 min | — |
| Shriners Hospital for Children | Honolulu, HI | $7,144 | $266 | — | — | — |
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 $1,527 — about 8.0× the Medicare rate ($190). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($381).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $2,239 list price could save about $712 (32%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) without contrast cost in other states
All MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) without contrast prices (national) → · All hospitals in Hawaii →