Prices at 4 hospitals in Tucson, AZ, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $1,128 — 48% below the US median ($2,177), roughly 4.2× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banner-University Medical Center South Campus | Tucson, AZ | $433 | $419 | ★ 4/5 | 275 min | 14.5% |
| Banner-University Medical Center Tucson Campus | Tucson, AZ | $566 | $419 | ★ 3/5 | 306 min | 14.6% |
| Tucson Medical Center | Tucson, AZ | $1,691 | $372 | ★ 2/5 | 207 min | 14.6% |
| St. Mary's Hospital | Tucson, AZ | $7,115 | — | ★ 2/5 | 186 min | 14.3% |
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 $1,128 — about 4.2× the Medicare rate ($271). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($542).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $4,600 list price could save about $3,472 (75%).
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) with contrast prices in Arizona → · All MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) with contrast prices (national) · All hospitals in Tucson