Prices at 4 hospitals in Tucson, AZ, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $1,038 — 53% below the US median ($2,199), roughly 3.8× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banner-University Medical Center South Campus | Tucson, AZ | $433 | $400 | ★ 4/5 | 260 min | — |
| Banner-University Medical Center Tucson Campus | Tucson, AZ | $566 | $396 | ★ 3/5 | 311 min | — |
| Tucson Medical Center | Tucson, AZ | $1,510 | $365 | ★ 2/5 | 202 min | — |
| St. Mary's Hospital | Tucson, AZ | $7,115 | — | ★ 2/5 | 176 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 $1,038 — about 3.8× 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 $4,278 list price could save about $3,239 (76%).
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) prices in Arizona → · All MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) prices (national) · All hospitals in Tucson