Prices at 6 hospitals in Nashville, TN, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $825 — 141% above the US median ($343), roughly 17.6× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Thomas Hospital for Spinal Surgery | Nashville, TN | $131 | $41 | — | — | 14.0% |
| Metro Nashville General Hospital | Nashville, TN | $349 | $12 | ★ 4/5 | 134 min | 14.7% |
| Tristar Southern Hills Medical Center | Nashville, TN | $1,302 | $207 | ★ 4/5 | 124 min | 14.8% |
| Tristar Skyline Medical Center | Nashville, TN | $2,129 | $155 | ★ 2/5 | 173 min | 14.1% |
| Tristar Centennial Medical Center | Nashville, TN | $2,316 | $674 | ★ 4/5 | 115 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 $825 — about 17.6× the Medicare rate ($47). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($94).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $942 list price could save about $116 (12%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
All X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) prices in Tennessee → · All X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) prices (national) · All hospitals in Nashville