Prices at 3 hospitals in Minneapolis, MN, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $205 — 48% below the US median ($396), roughly 3.8× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital | Minneapolis, MN | $138 | $180 | ★ 4/5 | 183 min | — |
| M Health Fairview University of Mn Medical Center | Minneapolis, MN | $205 | $75 | ★ 4/5 | 174 min | — |
| Children's Hospitals & Clinics of Mn | Minneapolis, MN | $289 | $116 | — | — | — |
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 $205 — about 3.8× the Medicare rate ($53). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($107).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $289 list price could save about $84 (29%).
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 Minneapolis
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Crowe, M.D. | Orthopedic Surgery | Minneapolis, MN | 30 |
| Timothy Garvey, MD | Orthopedic Surgery | Minneapolis, MN | 25 |
| Morenike Fanu | Diagnostic Radiology | Minneapolis, MN | 19 |
| Michael Eckroth, PA-C | Physician Assistant | Minneapolis, MN | 15 |
| James Schwender, MD | Orthopedic Surgery | Minneapolis, MN | 12 |
| Qingwu Kong, MD | Orthopedic Surgery | Minneapolis, MN | 11 |
All X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (4+ views) prices in Minnesota → · All X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (4+ views) prices (national) · All hospitals in Minneapolis