Lower back X-ray cost in Minneapolis, MN
In Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, 21 hospitals list a cash price for X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine), 2 or 3 views: from $42.12 to $281.57, with a median of $155.59. The lowest listed price is at Methodist Hospital — $113.47 less than the median here. Across Minnesota, the median is $163.69 at 47 hospitals.
Cash prices at 21 facilities across 18 cities for code 72100, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 29, 2026 and Jun 17, 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methodist Hospital lowest St. Louis Park, MN X-ray; lower spine | $42.12 | $162.00 | $39.20–$367.00 | 74% | — source file |
| Childrens Health Care Minneapolis, MN · (612) 813-6112 72100 PF Rad Spine Lumbar 2 view AP&Lat | $58.00 | $58.00 | $27.79–$58.00 | — | May 7, 2026 source file |
| Hudson Hospital Hudson, WI · (715) 531-6000 X-ray; lower spine | $131.72 | $292.00 | $61.96–$344.00 | 55% | — source file |
| Regions Hospital St. Paul, MN · (651) 254-1616 X-ray; lower spine | $132.08 | $508.00 | $41.17–$406.40 | 74% | — source file |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital Minneapolis, MN · (612) 863-4000 HCHG RAD XRAY LUMBOSACRAL SPINE 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $138.43 | $288.40 | $56.44–$331.00 | 52% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Hospital Coon Rapids, MN · (762) 236-6000 HCHG RAD XRAY LUMBOSACRAL SPINE 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $138.43 | $288.40 | $56.44–$331.00 | 52% | Jun 17, 2026 source file |
| Allina Health Systems River Falls, WI HCHG RAD XRAY LUMBOSACRAL SPINE 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $139.33 | $248.80 | $50.06–$441.18 | 44% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge, MN · (763) 689-7700 HCHG RAD XRAY LUMBOSACRAL SPINE 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $139.33 | $248.80 | $50.06–$336.00 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo, MN · (763) 682-1212 HCHG RAD XRAY LUMBOSACRAL SPINE 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $139.33 | $248.80 | $50.06–$336.00 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview University of Mn Medical Center Minneapolis, MN · (612) 624-1765 Outpatient Services | $151.28 | $377.25 | $64.51–$339.53 | 60% | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview University of Mn Medical Center Minneapolis, MN · (612) 624-1765 HC X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2-3 VIEWS | $151.28 | $377.25 | $64.51–$339.53 | 60% | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital Edina, MN · (952) 924-5000 HC X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2-3 VIEWS | $155.59 | $388.00 | $64.51–$349.20 | 60% | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| HealthEast St John's Hospital Maplewood, MN · (651) 232-7000 HC X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2-3 VIEWS | $155.59 | $388.00 | $64.51–$349.20 | 60% | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| HealthEast Woodwinds Hospital Woodbury, MN · (651) 232-2185 HC X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2-3 VIEWS | $155.59 | $388.00 | $64.51–$349.20 | 60% | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Lakes Health Services Wyoming, MN · (952) 892-2101 HC X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2-3 VIEWS | $155.59 | $388.00 | $64.51–$349.20 | 60% | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Bethesda Hospital St. Paul, MN HC X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2-3 VIEWS | $155.59 | $388.00 | $95.84–$349.20 | 60% | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Northland Regional Hospital Princeton, MN · (952) 892-2101 HC X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2-3 VIEWS | $155.59 | $388.00 | $64.51–$349.20 | 60% | Jan 29, 2026 source file |
| M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital Burnsville, MN · (952) 892-2000 HC X-RAY LUMBAR SPINE 2-3 VIEWS | $160.34 | $377.25 | $64.51–$339.53 | 57% | Feb 6, 2026 source file |
| North Memorial Health Care Robbinsdale, MN · (763) 520-5200 X-Ray, spine, lumbosacral; 2 or 3 views | $190.77 | $362.00 | $80.48–$892.00 | 47% | — source file |
| Maple Grove Hospital Maple Grove, MN · (763) 581-1000 X-Ray, spine, lumbosacral; 2 or 3 views | $190.77 | $362.00 | $73.93–$892.00 | 47% | — source file |
| Mercy Hospital Coon Rapids, MN · (762) 236-6000 HCHG RAD XRAY LUMBOSACRAL SPINE 2 OR 3 VIEWS PORTA | $207.79 | $432.90 | $56.44–$363.64 | 52% | Jun 17, 2026 source file |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital Minneapolis, MN · (612) 863-4000 HCHG RAD XRAY LUMBOSACRAL SPINE 2 OR 3 VIEWS PORTA | $207.79 | $432.90 | $56.44–$363.64 | 52% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo, MN · (763) 682-1212 HCHG RAD XRAY LUMBOSACRAL SPINE 2 OR 3 VIEWS PORTA | $208.99 | $373.20 | $69.64–$373.20 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina Health Systems River Falls, WI HCHG RAD XRAY LUMBOSACRAL SPINE 2 OR 3 VIEWS PORTA | $208.99 | $373.20 | $75.09–$441.18 | 44% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge, MN · (763) 689-7700 HCHG RAD XRAY LUMBOSACRAL SPINE 2 OR 3 VIEWS PORTA | $208.99 | $373.20 | $69.64–$373.20 | 44% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Westfields Hospital New Richmond, WI · (715) 246-2101 X-ray; lower spine | $241.43 | $459.00 | $182.31–$459.00 | 47% | — source file |
| Lakeview Hospital Stillwater, MN · (651) 430-4509 X-ray; lower spine | $281.57 | $761.00 | $1.20–$684.90 | 63% | — source file |
| Childrens Health Care Minneapolis, MN · (612) 813-6112 SPINE LUMBAR 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $398.00 | $398.00 | $39.82–$398.00 | — | May 7, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Health Care Minneapolis, MN · (612) 813-6112 SPINE LUMBAR 2 OR 3 VIEWS PORT | $493.00 | $493.00 | $39.82–$493.00 | — | May 7, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $42.12, median $155.59, highest $281.57 — a 6.7× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 21 facilities here, median $151.28. 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 20 of 21 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it 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 lower back X-ray shows the bones of the lumbar spine in two or three views. It is used after injuries, for suspected fractures and for back pain with warning signs.
What the price covers
The price usually covers taking the images. The radiologist's reading may be billed separately.