Lumbar spine CT cost in Cincinnati, OH — inpatient
In Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, 11 hospitals list a cash price for CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) without contrast as an inpatient: from $123.42 to $1,166.00, with a median of $989.40. The lowest listed price is at Children's Hospital Medical Center — $865.98 less than the median here. Across Ohio, the median is $1,016.70 at 100 hospitals.
Cash prices at 11 facilities across 6 cities for code 72131, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Jul 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 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children's Hospital Medical Center lowest Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Chg Ct Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast Material|By Midlevel | $123.42 | $242.00 | $31.18–$202.21 | 49% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center lowest Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Chg Ct Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast Material|By Specialist | $123.42 | $242.00 | $41.57–$242.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Bethesda North Cincinnati, OH · (513) 865-1111 HC CT Spine Lumbar WO Contrast | $302.99 | $403.99 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Health West Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 215-5000 HC CT L-Spine W/O Contrast | $989.40 | $1,649.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Kings Mills Hospital Mason, OH · (513) 637-9999 HC CT L-Spine W/O Contrast | $989.40 | $1,649.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| The Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health Cincinnati, OH · (513) 686-3000 HC CT L-Spine W/O Contrast | $989.40 | $1,649.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Anderson Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 624-4500 HC CT L-Spine W/O Contrast | $989.40 | $1,649.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital Fairfield, OH · (513) 870-7000 HC CT L-Spine W/O Contrast | $989.40 | $1,649.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Clermont Hospital Batavia, OH · (513) 732-8278 HC CT L-Spine W/O Contrast | $989.40 | $1,649.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc Ct L Spine W/O Contrast | $1,093.80 | $1,823.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc Ct L Spine W/O Contrast | $1,093.80 | $1,823.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb Ct Lumbar Wo Contrast | $1,128.12 | $2,212.00 | $1,061.76–$2,212.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Fort Hamilton Hospital Hamilton, OH · (513) 867-2123 Hc Ct Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast | $1,166.00 | $2,915.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $123.42, median $989.40, highest $1,166.00 — a 9.4× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 13 facilities here, median $665.40 — 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. 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
This CT scan shows the bones of the lower back in detail. It is used after injuries and when an MRI is not possible.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the scan. The radiologist's reading may be billed separately.