Prices at 3 hospitals in Alaska, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $8,524 — 292% above the US median ($2,177), roughly 31.4× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peacehealth Ketchikan Medical Center | Ketchikan, AK | $2,181 | — | ★ 4/5 | 120 min | 14.7% |
| Alaska Regional Hospital | Anchorage, AK | $8,524 | $5,242 | ★ 1/5 | 129 min | 15.8% |
| North Star Hospital | Anchorage, AK | $8,524 | $5,242 | — | — | — |
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 July 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 $8,524 — about 31.4× the Medicare rate ($271). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($542).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) with contrast cost in other states
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