Prices at 4 hospitals in Aurora, CO, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $3,182 — 19% above the US median ($2,681), roughly 10.0× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Hospital Authority | Aurora, CO | $3,003 | $1,217 | ★ 5/5 | 103 min | 14.3% |
| VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System | Aurora, CO | $3,182 | $3,182 | ★ 5/5 | — | 13.4% |
| Children's Hospital Colorado | Aurora, CO | $3,182 | $3,182 | — | — | — |
| The Medical Center of Aurora & South Hospital | Aurora, CO | $12,575 | $1,123 | ★ 4/5 | 140 min | 13.5% |
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 August 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 $3,182 — about 10.0× the Medicare rate ($319). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($637).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $6,739 list price could save about $3,556 (53%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
Doctors who perform this in Aurora
Clinicians who reported the most Medicare volume for this service locally. This reflects Original Medicare activity only and is a volume signal, not a quality ranking.
| Clinician | Specialty | Location | Medicare services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Honce, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Aurora, CO | 29 |
| Andrew Callen, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Aurora, CO | 22 |
| Valeria Potigailo, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Aurora, CO | 21 |
| Jody Tanabe, MD | Diagnostic Radiology | Aurora, CO | 19 |
| Gustavo Mendez, M.D. | Diagnostic Radiology | Aurora, CO | 17 |
All MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) with and without contrast prices in Colorado → · All MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) with and without contrast prices (national) · All hospitals in Aurora