US Health Care Costs

X-ray of the lower back, 2 or 3 views in Massachusetts

CPT 72100 · hospital facility charge

Cash prices range from $391 to $536 at the 4 Massachusetts hospitals whose price files we have read so far.

Estimate what you would pay

$451typical cash price
$373typical commercial insurer rate
$391–$536cash price range, 4 hospitals
Cash price by hospital, lowest first

Massachusetts typical cash price: $451

Massachusetts hospitals compared

HospitalCityList priceCash priceInsurers (median)
Newton-Wellesley HospitalNewton$521$391$380$306–$401 · 5 plans
Brigham and Women's HospitalBoston$601$451$320$200–$486 · 15 plans
Massachusetts General HospitalBoston$601$451$394$200–$491 · 15 plans
Berkshire Medical CenterPittsfield$564$536$366$90–$536 · 40 plans
Only hospitals whose price files we've read are listed. The price is the hospital's part; the doctor (radiologist, surgeon, anesthesiologist) usually bills separately.

Common questions

How much does X-ray of the lower back, 2 or 3 views cost at a hospital in Massachusetts?

At 4 Massachusetts hospitals that publish a cash price, the typical price for X-ray of the lower back, 2 or 3 views is $451, and most charge between $409 and $510. The typical rate commercial insurers have negotiated is $373. These are hospital prices; independent clinics, imaging centers and labs often charge less.

Is it cheaper to pay cash or use insurance for X-ray of the lower back, 2 or 3 views?

At 0 of the 4 hospitals in Massachusetts that publish both, the cash price is lower than the typical insurer rate. Remember that with insurance you pay only your share of that rate once your deductible is met, and that cash payments usually don't count toward your deductible.

Which hospital in Massachusetts has the lowest cash price for X-ray of the lower back, 2 or 3 views?

Of the hospitals whose price files we have read, the lowest published cash price is $391 at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Confirm the price with the hospital before you book.

Does the price include the doctor?

No. These are the hospital's own charges, often called the facility fee. The doctors involved, such as the surgeon, the anesthesiologist or the radiologist who reads a scan, usually send a separate bill.

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