Skull X-ray cost in Washington, DC
In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, 18 hospitals list a cash price for skull X-ray, fewer than 4 views: from $170.53 to $1,235.02, with a median of $344.50. The lowest listed price is at National Rehabilitation Hospital — $173.97 less than the median here. Across District of Columbia, the median is $336.00 at 5 hospitals.
Cash prices at 18 facilities across 14 cities for code 70250, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 29, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Sep 1, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Rehabilitation Hospital lowest Washington, DC SKULL LESS THAN 4 VWS | $170.53 | $262.35 | $160.03–$421.00 | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| National Rehabilitation Hospital lowest Washington, DC BC SKULL LESS THAN 4 VWS | $170.53 | $262.35 | $160.03–$421.00 | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Jefferson Medical Center Ranson, WV · (304) 728-1600 X-RAY EXAM OF SKULL | $183.50 | $367.00 | — | 50% | — source file |
| MedStar Southern Hospital Center Clinton, MD · (301) 868-8000 BC-SKULL < 4 VWS | $223.10 | $227.65 | $223.10–$227.65 | 2% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Southern Hospital Center Clinton, MD · (301) 868-8000 SKULL < 4 VWS | $223.10 | $227.65 | $223.10–$227.65 | 2% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Fauquier Health Warrenton, VA · (540) 316-5000 Radiologic examination, skull; less than 4 views | $233.20 | $583.00 | $509.00 | 60% | — source file |
| MedStar Washington Hospital Center Washington, DC · (202) 877-7000 BC SKULL LESS THAN 4 VWS | $270.37 | $415.96 | $99.08–$353.57 | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Washington Hospital Center Washington, DC · (202) 877-7000 SKULL LESS THAN 4 VWS | $270.37 | $415.96 | $99.08–$353.57 | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Olney, MD · (301) 774-8882 SKULL < 4 VWS | $318.78 | $325.29 | $318.78–$325.29 | 2% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Olney, MD · (301) 774-8882 BC-SKULL < 4 VWS | $318.78 | $325.29 | $318.78–$325.29 | 2% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Children's National Hospital Washington, DC · (202) 476-5000 XR Port Skull 2 views AP/Lateral | $336.00 | $672.00 | $31.61–$1,550.00 | 50% | — source file |
| Children's National Hospital Washington, DC · (202) 476-5000 XR Portable Skull Single View | $336.00 | $672.00 | $31.61–$1,550.00 | 50% | — source file |
| Children's National Hospital Washington, DC · (202) 476-5000 XR Skull 1-3 Views | $336.00 | $672.00 | $31.61–$1,550.00 | 50% | — source file |
| Children's National Hospital Washington, DC · (202) 476-5000 XR VP Shunt Series | $336.00 | $672.00 | $31.61–$1,550.00 | 50% | — source file |
| Children's National Hospital Washington, DC · (202) 476-5000 XR VP Shunt | $336.00 | $672.00 | $31.61–$1,550.00 | 50% | — source file |
| Inova Fairfax Hospital Falls Church, VA · (703) 698-1110 HC XR SKULL <4 VIEWS | $344.50 | $689.00 | $80.04–$537.42 | 50% | — source file |
| Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Alexandria, VA · (703) 664-7105 HC XR SKULL <4 VIEWS | $344.50 | $689.00 | $80.04–$537.42 | 50% | — source file |
| Inova Alexandria Hospital Alexandria, VA · (703) 504-3167 HC XR SKULL <4 VIEWS | $344.50 | $689.00 | $80.04–$537.42 | 50% | — source file |
| Inova Loudoun Hospital Leesburg, VA · (703) 858-6600 HC XR SKULL <4 VIEWS | $344.50 | $689.00 | $80.04–$537.42 | 50% | — source file |
| Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Fairfax, VA · (703) 391-4170 HC XR SKULL <4 VIEWS | $344.50 | $689.00 | $80.04–$537.42 | 50% | — source file |
| MedStar Georgetown Hospital Northwest Washington, DC · (202) 784-3000 BC SKULL LESS THAN 4 VWS | $438.60 | $674.77 | $99.08–$607.29 | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Georgetown Hospital Northwest Washington, DC · (202) 784-3000 SKULL LESS THAN 4 VWS | $438.60 | $674.77 | $99.08–$607.29 | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center Woodbridge, VA · (703) 523-1000 Chg - Skull Less Than 4 Vw | $529.00 | $1,058.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center Woodbridge, VA · (703) 523-1000 Chgr-Skull Ltd | $529.00 | $1,058.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Children's National Rehabilitation and Specialized Care Washington, DC RADIOLOGIC EXAMINATION SKULL 4< VIEWS | $870.50 | $1,741.00 | $41.04–$1,653.95 | 50% | — source file |
| Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center Fredericksburg, VA · (540) 498-4000 Radiologic examination, skull; less than 4 views | $1,093.04 | $1,093.04 | $95.38–$245.18 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center Fredericksburg, VA · (540) 498-4000 XR SKULL < 4 V | $1,093.04 | $1,093.04 | $207.68–$983.74 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Reston Hospital Center Vienna, VA · (703) 689-9000 XR SKULL < 4 V | $1,234.97 | $1,234.97 | $234.64–$1,111.47 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Stonesprings Hospital Center Dulles, VA · (571) 349-4000 XR SKULL < 4 V | $1,235.02 | $1,235.02 | $234.65–$1,049.77 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Stonesprings Hospital Center Dulles, VA · (571) 349-4000 Radiologic examination, skull; less than 4 views | $1,235.02 | $1,235.02 | $245.18 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $170.53, median $344.50, highest $1,235.02 — a 7.2× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 11 facilities here, median $344.50. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 13 of 16 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 1 it is below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What it is
A skull X-ray takes up to three pictures of the bones of the head. It is used less often than before, because a head CT (70450) shows the brain and skull better after an injury.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers taking the X-ray. The radiologist's reading is often billed separately.