National price data · 2,824 hospitals
MRI, brain (no contrast) cost
What a mri, brain (no contrast) costs across the U.S. — and the fair price to aim for.
Pillar 1 · The BaseRate™ CompositeHow 1.00× Fair BaseRate Works: Raw price averages unfairly penalize hospitals in high-wage cities or trauma centers treating sicker patients. We adjust for local CMS hospital wage levels and patient complexity first. A 1.00× score means right at the fair price average, 0.85× means 15% cheaper than fair market, and 1.30× means 30% above fair market.Near Fair BaseRate Benchmark
1.00×vs. Fair Market Price
Position vs. 1.00× Fair PriceRight at U.S. Average (0%)
1.00× (center of the bar) is the U.S. fair price average after accounting for local hospital wages and patient complexity. Left of center (<1.00×) is below fair price; right of center (>1.00×) is above fair price.
Typical commercial prices here match the fair market benchmark (1.00×) after accounting for local nurse/doctor wages and patient complexity.
Pillar 2 · VeriRate™ Data TrustHow VeriRate™ (0–100) Works: Hospitals are legally required to publish machine-readable price files, but some bury fake $0.01 numbers or omit cash discounts. VeriRate audits each file across 5 checks (hover any badge below to see what it tests).86/100 · Verified
86/100Hover Any Check Below to See How Prices Were Audited
File Completeness90Provenance (File Completeness): Checks whether the hospital published a complete, up-to-date machine-readable price file with valid CPT and MS-DRG billing codes instead of leaving blanks.
Price Logic88Coherence (Price Logic): Checks whether the hospital’s numbers make basic sense — e.g., self-pay cash price is lower than gross list price, with no fake $0.01 or $999,999 placeholder numbers.
Peer Alignment86Concordance (Peer Alignment): Checks whether reported prices sit in a realistic range compared to Medicare and nearby hospitals rather than wild 100× unit errors.
Clean Billing83Regularity (Clean Billing): Checks whether rates are structured consistently across procedures without erratic statistical spikes or hidden unbundled facility fees.
Real Cash Discount84Cash Honesty (Real Cash Discount): Checks whether the hospital offers a genuine self-pay cash discount that beats or matches commercial insurance rates instead of billing full sticker price.
Pillar 3 · Clinical Quality & ER SpeedChecks whether higher hospital prices actually buy better clinical quality — combining CMS Star Ratings, hospital safety scores, and emergency room wait times.Regional Value Leader
CMS Star RatingNot RatedOfficial CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating (1 to 5 stars) summarizing mortality, safety of care, readmissions, and patient experience.
Safety ScoreNot ScoredComposite patient safety score (0–100) derived from CMS hospital-acquired infection rates (CLABSI, CAUTI, MRSA, C. diff), surgical complications, and HCAHPS surveys.
Typical ER WaitNo ER DataMedian minutes patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit, as reported to CMS Timely and Effective Care.
Balances commercial hospital prices against CMS clinical safety, infection control, and patient experience.
Behavioral Pricing FingerprintLow Shoppable & Low Captive
Uniform Value Leader
Daniels Memorial Hospital maintains disciplined commercial pricing across both elective shoppable care (0.6× Medicare) and captive emergency/ancillary departments (0.2× Medicare). Patients and health plans benefit from predictable, below-benchmark rates (0.46× Fair BaseRate) without hidden ancillary cross-subsidization.
#6 of 26 in MT · 19th State Percentile#40 of 3,385 in U.S. · 1st National Percentile
Advantage
Where They're Good (Patient & Payer Edge)
- Elective shoppable care is priced 54% below peer Fair BaseRate (0.46×)
- Self-pay cash beats commercial insurance on 29% of shoppable procedures (43/100 Cash Honesty)
- CMS clinical safety score (85/100 safety score) with 72% patient recommendation
- IRS 501(c)(3) charity care provides free care up to 200% FPL and discounted care up to 400% FPL (80.9% AGB cap)
Watchout
Where You Can Get Burned (Markup Traps)
- Even at low-cost facilities (1.00× Fair BaseRate), out-of-network or unnegotiated chargemaster bills can exceed commercial medians — confirm in-network status or request a self-pay cash quote up front.
- Commercial insurance median sits at 0.26× Fair BaseRate (0.6× Medicare), so insured patients should always compare the self-pay cash price before paying.
- Upper-quartile procedures (Q75 0.86×) jump +231% above the median procedure ratio (Q50 0.26×)
- Unnegotiated chargemaster list prices average 8.9× Medicare (29¢ true HCRIS cost per $1 gross)
Front-Door ShoppableElective / Imaging
0.6× Medicare
Pre-scheduled outpatient procedures where patients can comparison-shop.
Back-Door Captive & ER0.33× Divergence
0.2× Medicare
Emergency, inpatient DRG, lab, and specialty drug lines billed after admission.
Quantile Tail Spread+231% Upper Tail
Q25 0.21× · Q50 0.26× · Q75 0.86×
Detects median-gaming when upper-quartile codes spike above the p50 median.
Select any lens to inspect department markups, federal cost accounting, or insurer discounts.
Department & Integrity Multiples (vs. CMS Medicare Cost Anchor)
Green ≤1.3× · Teal 1.3–1.8× · Amber 1.8–2.5× · Rose >2.5×
Front-Door Shoppable CareFront-Door Shoppable
0.6× MedicareGood
Outpatient Surgery & ORBack-Door Captive
0.8× MedicareGood
Diagnostic Imaging (CT/MRI)Front-Door Shoppable
0.5× MedicareGood
Back-Door Captive ER VisitsBack-Door Captive
0.9× MedicareGood
Inpatient Lab & PathologyBack-Door Captive
0.8× MedicareGood
Specialty & Infusion Drugs (J-Codes)Back-Door Captive
1.1× MedicareGood
Self-Pay Cash Honesty & 501(r)Integrity & Outcomes
29% Cash Edge · 43/100Watchout
CMS Clinical Safety & Star ValueIntegrity & Outcomes
3 CMS · 85/100Good
National Geographic Price Intelligence · 50-State + DC/PR Cartogram
National State Price Index Heatmap · MRI, brain (no contrast)
State commercial price index vs. U.S. median (1.00×) and average Medicare multiple across all 53 priced states & territories
<0.93× Below Fair Price
0.93–1.05× Near Average
1.05–1.18× Elevated
>1.18× High-Cost State
AK1.66×
2.9× Med
ME0.61×
1.1× Med
WA1.45×
2.5× Med
ID0.69×
1.2× Med
MT0.88×
1.6× Med
ND1.87×
3.3× Med
MN0.88×
1.6× Med
WI1.79×
3.1× Med
MI0.69×
1.2× Med
VT0.64×
1.1× Med
NH1.65×
2.9× Med
OR0.89×
1.6× Med
NV1.13×
2.0× Med
WY0.64×
1.1× Med
SD0.73×
1.3× Med
IA1.51×
2.7× Med
IL0.78×
1.4× Med
IN1.35×
2.4× Med
OH0.91×
1.6× Med
PA1.00×
1.8× Med
NY1.04×
1.8× Med
MA1.20×
2.1× Med
CA0.99×
1.7× Med
UT1.20×
2.1× Med
CO1.51×
2.6× Med
NE2.31×
4.1× Med
MO0.90×
1.6× Med
KY1.65×
2.9× Med
WV0.71×
1.2× Med
VA1.54×
2.7× Med
MD1.56×
2.7× Med
NJ1.07×
1.9× Med
CT1.24×
2.2× Med
AZ0.78×
1.4× Med
NM1.22×
2.1× Med
KS1.53×
2.7× Med
AR0.80×
1.4× Med
TN0.89×
1.6× Med
NC0.70×
1.2× Med
SC1.12×
2.0× Med
DE0.98×
1.7× Med
DC0.86×
1.5× Med
RI1.30×
2.3× Med
OK1.26×
2.2× Med
LA1.17×
2.0× Med
MS0.98×
1.7× Med
AL0.66×
1.2× Med
GA1.03×
1.8× Med
HI0.89×
1.6× Med
TX1.01×
1.8× Med
FL1.38×
2.4× Med
PR0.77×
1.3× Med
ME0.61×1.1× MedVT0.64×1.1× MedWY0.64×1.1× MedAL0.66×1.2× MedID0.69×1.2× MedMI0.69×1.2× MedNC0.70×1.2× MedWV0.71×1.2× MedSD0.73×1.3× MedPR0.77×1.3× MedAZ0.78×1.4× MedIL0.78×1.4× MedAR0.80×1.4× MedDC0.86×1.5× MedMN0.88×1.6× MedMT0.88×1.6× MedHI0.89×1.6× MedOR0.89×1.6× MedTN0.89×1.6× MedMO0.90×1.6× MedOH0.91×1.6× MedDE0.98×1.7× MedMS0.98×1.7× MedCA0.99×1.7× MedPA1.00×1.8× MedTX1.01×1.8× MedGA1.03×1.8× MedNY1.04×1.8× MedNJ1.07×1.9× MedSC1.12×2.0× MedNV1.13×2.0× MedLA1.17×2.0× MedMA1.20×2.1× MedUT1.20×2.1× MedNM1.22×2.1× MedCT1.24×2.2× MedOK1.26×2.2× MedRI1.30×2.3× MedIN1.35×2.4× MedFL1.38×2.4× MedWA1.45×2.5× MedCO1.51×2.6× MedIA1.51×2.7× MedKS1.53×2.7× MedVA1.54×2.7× MedMD1.56×2.7× MedKY1.65×2.9× MedNH1.65×2.9× MedAK1.66×2.9× MedWI1.79×3.1× MedND1.87×3.3× MedNE2.31×4.1× Med
5 Lowest-Price States (Confounder-Isolated Value Leaders)
5 Highest-Markup States (Strict Bill Audit Recommended)
The BaseRate high confidence
$339
the fair national price for a mri, brain (no contrast)
typically $200–$1,095 across 2,824 hospitals · how we calculate it
modeled estimate · not a bill or quote
2,824
hospitals priced
52
states
5.5×
price spread — where shopping matters
1.8×
vs. Medicare
Across 2,824 hospitals in 52 states, a mri, brain (no contrast) has a fair BaseRate of $339 and typically costs $200–$1,095. The cheapest state is ME; the priciest is NE.
Cheapest hospitals for a mri, brain (no contrast)
- Daniels Memorial Hospital · Scobey, MT $58
- Saint Agnes Medical Center · Fresno, CA $59
- Teton Valley Hospital · Driggs, ID $62
- Veterans Memorial Hospital · Waukon, IA $65
- Metro Nashville General Hospital · Nashville, TN $65
- Glacial Ridge Hospital · Glenwood, MN $66
- Henry Ford Allegiance Health · Jackson, MI $67
- Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center · Bandon, OR $67
- South Lincoln Medical Center - Cah · Kemmerer, WY $67
- Holyoke Medical Center · Holyoke, MA $67
- University of Michigan Health System · Ann Arbor, MI $69
- Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center · Salida, CO $69
- Henry Ford Health Hospital · Detroit, MI $69
- Henry Ford Macomb Hospital · Clinton Township, MI $69
- Wyandotte Hospital and Medical Center · Wyandotte, MI $69
MRI, brain (no contrast) cost by state
AK $569 5 hospitals AL $226 50 hospitals AR $273 35 hospitals AZ $268 48 hospitals CA $339 226 hospitals CO $517 57 hospitals CT $424 15 hospitals DC $296 5 hospitals DE $337 8 hospitals FL $473 142 hospitals GA $352 85 hospitals HI $304 14 hospitals IA $518 74 hospitals ID $236 21 hospitals IL $268 109 hospitals IN $463 92 hospitals KS $526 85 hospitals KY $565 57 hospitals LA $400 72 hospitals MA $410 46 hospitals MD $535 2 hospitals ME $210 25 hospitals MI $237 78 hospitals MN $303 73 hospitals MO $308 74 hospitals MS $335 53 hospitals MT $303 18 hospitals NC $241 51 hospitals ND $641 15 hospitals NE $793 41 hospitals NH $566 15 hospitals NJ $368 47 hospitals NM $417 12 hospitals NV $389 21 hospitals NY $358 84 hospitals OH $311 108 hospitals OK $431 65 hospitals OR $304 35 hospitals PA $344 118 hospitals PR $263 11 hospitals RI $445 6 hospitals SC $383 42 hospitals SD $249 11 hospitals TN $305 71 hospitals TX $348 250 hospitals UT $411 28 hospitals VA $529 51 hospitals VT $220 9 hospitals WA $497 50 hospitals WI $614 90 hospitals WV $242 18 hospitals WY $219 6 hospitals
Inline Bill X-Ray & 501(r) Calculator
501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Free Care ≤200% FPL · AGB Cap 36.3%
Audit a Bill or Quote at U.S. Hospital Benchmark (Zero PHI Required)
Fair BaseRate™ $339
Medicare Rate $197
Self-Pay Cash Request Quote
Insurer Median $343
Pre-filled with U.S. Hospital Benchmark’s charged/list benchmark
Screened against 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines
2026 FPL: $15,650 + $5,500 per additional person
Step 1 · 501(r) Charity Care Check
501(r) AGB Cap: $299 (274% FPL)
Statutory 501(r) AGB Cap Limits Bill to $299
At 274% FPL (201%–400% FPL tier), 26 U.S.C. § 501(r)(5) caps FAP-eligible bills at Amounts Generally Billed (36.3% of gross = $299).
Step 2 · Cash vs. Insurance Arbitrage
Request Prompt-Pay Quote
Compare Prompt-Pay Cash Rate Against Remaining Deductible
Ask U.S. Hospital Benchmark's billing desk for their written 45 CFR § 180 discounted self-pay cash price and Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act.
Step 3 · Fair BaseRate Target
+$484 Above Fair BaseRate
Negotiate Toward $339 Fair BaseRate ($197 Medicare)
Your bill ($823) is $484 above the denoised Fair BaseRate ($339) and 4.2× the $197 Medicare rate.
1-Click Factual Dispute Summary: Copy a citation-backed benchmark memo (with CMS CCN, CPT code, Medicare reference, Fair BaseRate, and 26 U.S.C. § 501(r) calculations) to paste into patient-portal messages or billing appeals.