Prices at 3 hospitals in Augusta, GA, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $309 — 9% below the US median ($340), roughly 6.6× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Augusta Hospital | Augusta, GA | $309 | $262 | ★ 2/5 | 212 min | 15.0% |
| Augusta VA Medical Center | Augusta, GA | $309 | $262 | ★ 4/5 | — | 15.1% |
| Doctors Hospital | Augusta, GA | $2,234 | $81 | ★ 3/5 | 171 min | 14.9% |
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 $309 — about 6.6× the Medicare rate ($47). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($94).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $1,029 list price could save about $720 (70%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
All X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) prices in Georgia → · All X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) prices (national) · All hospitals in Augusta