Prices at 3 hospitals in Newark, NJ, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $138 — 60% below the US median ($341), roughly 2.9× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Michael's Medical Center | Newark, NJ | $121 | $127 | ★ 4/5 | 169 min | — |
| Newark Beth Israel Medical Center | Newark, NJ | $138 | $143 | ★ 2/5 | 176 min | — |
| The University Hospital | Newark, NJ | $140 | $198 | ★ 1/5 | 307 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 $138 — about 2.9× the Medicare rate ($47). On the higher side. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($94).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $661 list price could save about $523 (79%).
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 New Jersey → · All X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) prices (national) · All hospitals in Newark