Lower back X-ray cost in Portland, OR — inpatient
In Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, 11 hospitals list a cash price for X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine), 2 or 3 views as an inpatient: from $72.15 to $495.55, with a median of $246.75. The lowest listed price is at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center and 4 other hospitals — $174.60 less than the median here. Across Oregon, the median is $291.48 at 38 hospitals.
Cash prices at 11 facilities across 9 cities for code 72100, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center lowest Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 CHG RADEX SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2/3 VIEWS | $72.15 | $111.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center lowest Portland, OR · (503) 413-7682 CHG RADEX SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2/3 VIEWS | $72.15 | $111.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center lowest Vancouver, WA · (360) 487-1000 CHG RADEX SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2/3 VIEWS | $72.15 | $111.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center lowest Portland, OR · (503) 413-7682 CHG RADEX SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2/3 VIEWS | $72.15 | $111.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center lowest Tualatin, OR · (503) 692-1212 CHG RADEX SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2/3 VIEWS | $72.15 | $111.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center lowest Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 CHG RADEX SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2/3 VIEWS | $72.15 | $111.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center lowest Gresham, OR · (503) 674-1122 CHG RADEX SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2/3 VIEWS | $72.15 | $111.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center lowest Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 CHG RADEX SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2/3 VIEWS | $72.15 | $111.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Milwaukie Hospital Milwaukie, OR · (503) 513-8300 HC XR SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $246.75 | $329.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Portland Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 215-1111 HC XR SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $246.75 | $329.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Portland Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 215-1111 HC XR SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $246.75 | $329.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center Oregon City, OR · (503) 656-1631 HC XR SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $246.75 | $329.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Newberg Medical Center Newberg, OR · (503) 537-1555 HC XR SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $246.75 | $329.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 HC SPINE LUMBAR 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $267.80 | $412.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-7682 HC SPINE LUMBAR 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $267.80 | $412.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center Gresham, OR · (503) 674-1122 HC SPINE LUMBAR 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $267.80 | $412.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 HC SPINE LUMBAR 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $267.80 | $412.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center Tualatin, OR · (503) 692-1212 HC SPINE LUMBAR 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $267.80 | $412.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-7682 HC SPINE LUMBAR 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $267.80 | $412.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 HC SPINE LUMBAR 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $267.80 | $412.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Vancouver, WA · (360) 487-1000 HC SPINE LUMBAR 2 OR 3 VIEWS | $293.80 | $452.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center Clackamas, OR · (503) 652-2880 RADEX SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2/3 VIEWS | $495.55 | $583.00 | $177.00–$570.00 | 15% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Westside Hillsboro, OR · (971) 310-0100 RADEX SPINE LUMBOSACRAL 2/3 VIEWS | $495.55 | $583.00 | $177.00–$570.00 | 15% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $72.15, median $246.75, highest $495.55 — a 6.9× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 15 facilities here, median $246.75 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 2 of 2 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.