DEXA bone density scan cost in Des Moines, IA — inpatient
In Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, 3 hospitals list a cash price for DEXA bone density scan of the hip, pelvis or spine as an inpatient: from $90.40 to $453.70, with a median of $244.40. The lowest listed price is at Central Iowa Hospital Corporation — $154.00 less than the median here. Across Iowa, the median is $245.20 at 34 hospitals.
Cash prices at 3 facilities across 2 cities for code 77080, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 28, 2026 and Mar 31, 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Iowa Hospital Corporation lowest Des Moines, IA PR DEXA,BONE DENSITY,AXIAL SKELETON | $90.40 | $113.00 | $35.12–$124.65 | 20% | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Central Iowa Hospital Corporation lowest Des Moines, IA PR DEXA,BONE DENSITY,AXIAL SKELETON | $90.40 | $113.00 | $35.12–$124.65 | 20% | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa Corp Des Moines, IA HC Dexa Bone Density Study >=1 Sites Axial Skeleton | $244.40 | $376.00 | $75.58–$376.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - Newton Newton, IA HC Dexa Bone Density Study >=1 Sites Axial Skeleton | $453.70 | $698.00 | $98.96–$698.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Central Iowa Hospital Corporation Des Moines, IA HC DXA BONE DENSITY AXIAL | $557.70 | $697.12 | $301.85 | 20% | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Central Iowa Hospital Corporation Des Moines, IA HC DXA BONE DENSITY AXIAL | $557.70 | $697.12 | $301.85 | 20% | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $90.40, median $244.40, highest $453.70 — a 5.0× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 3 facilities here, median $244.40 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 3 of 3 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 DEXA scan uses a very low dose of X-rays to measure bone density, usually at the hip and lower spine. It is used to check for osteoporosis and to judge the risk of fracture, and is commonly done for women over 65 and others at higher risk.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the scan and the report of bone density scores. The physician's interpretation may be billed separately, and adding a spine fracture check (vertebral fracture assessment) uses a different code.