Prices at 4 hospitals in Knoxville, TN, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $816 — 63% below the US median ($2,210), roughly 3.0× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkwest Medical Center | Knoxville, TN | $705 | $454 | ★ 3/5 | 259 min | 14.9% |
| Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center | Knoxville, TN | $729 | $342 | ★ 3/5 | 242 min | 15.1% |
| University Health System, Inc | Knoxville, TN | $904 | $1,446 | ★ 4/5 | 245 min | 14.9% |
| East Tennessee Childrens Hospital | Knoxville, TN | $904 | $1,446 | — | — | — |
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 June 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 $816 — about 3.0× 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 $2,983 list price could save about $2,167 (73%).
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 Tennessee → · All MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) prices (national) · All hospitals in Knoxville