Prices at 4 hospitals in Birmingham, AL, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $1,551 — 10% above the US median ($1,413), roughly 5.3× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Vincent's East | Birmingham, AL | $1,551 | $756 | ★ 3/5 | 158 min | — |
| St Vincent's Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | $1,551 | $756 | ★ 3/5 | 243 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 $1,551 — about 5.3× the Medicare rate ($291). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($581).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $4,382 list price could save about $2,831 (65%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
All Lung scan (V/Q) prices in Alabama → · All Lung scan (V/Q) prices (national) · All hospitals in Birmingham