Mid back X-ray cost in Duluth, MN — inpatient
In Duluth, MN-WI, 2 hospitals list a cash price for X-ray of the mid back (thoracic spine), 2 views as an inpatient: from $56.03 to $160.23, with a median of $108.13. The lowest listed price is at Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital — $52.10 less than the median here. Across Minnesota, the median is $180.24 at 46 hospitals.
Cash prices at 2 facilities across 2 cities for code 72070, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 29, 2026 and Apr 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 Duluth, MN-WI.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital lowest Duluth, MN · (218) 249-2449 Thoracic Spine 2 Views- Mh | $56.03 | $103.00 | — | 46% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital lowest Duluth, MN · (218) 249-2449 Pro X-Ray Exam of Thoracic Spine | $56.03 | $103.00 | — | 46% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Range Regional Health Services Hibbing, MN · (218) 362-6730 HC X-RAY THORACIC SPINE 2 VIEWS | $160.23 | $377.00 | $171.54–$375.15 | 57% | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital Duluth, MN · (218) 249-2449 Thoracic/Dorsal Spine,2 Views | $174.62 | $321.00 | — | 46% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital Duluth, MN · (218) 249-2449 RADEX SPINE THORACIC 2 VIEWS | $195.84 | $360.00 | — | 46% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $56.03, median $108.13, highest $160.23 — a 2.9× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 5 facilities here, median $260.87 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated and 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 thoracic spine X-ray shows the bones of the mid back. It is used after injuries and to look for compression fractures, which are common with osteoporosis.
What the price covers
The price usually covers taking the images. The radiologist's reading may be billed separately.