Prices at 5 hospitals in Cincinnati, OH, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $495 — 78% below the US median ($2,199), roughly 1.8× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | Cincinnati, OH | $297 | $362 | — | — | — |
| Good Samaritan Hospital | Cincinnati, OH | $495 | — | ★ 4/5 | 157 min | — |
| Bethesda North | Cincinnati, OH | $495 | — | ★ 3/5 | 155 min | — |
| Christ Hospital | Cincinnati, OH | $1,505 | $376 | ★ 5/5 | 172 min | — |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Llc | Cincinnati, OH | $1,990 | $446 | ★ 3/5 | 250 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 $495 — about 1.8× the Medicare rate ($271). Reasonable. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($542).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $660 list price could save about $165 (25%).
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 Ohio → · All MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) prices (national) · All hospitals in Cincinnati