Prices at 5 hospitals in Birmingham, AL, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $590 — 73% below the US median ($2,204), roughly 2.2× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Vincent's East | Birmingham, AL | $590 | $388 | ★ 3/5 | 156 min | 14.6% |
| St Vincent's Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | $590 | $388 | ★ 3/5 | 245 min | 15.3% |
| The Children's Hospital of Alabama | Birmingham, AL | $1,565 | $2,475 | — | — | — |
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 $590 — about 2.2× the Medicare rate ($271). On the higher side. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($542).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $3,640 list price could save about $3,049 (84%).
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) prices in Alabama → · All MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) prices (national) · All hospitals in Birmingham