Cost of a Chest CT Scan Visit
in New Mexico
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
New Mexico's rural geography and limited specialist concentration create unique challenges for accessing diagnostic imaging services across the state's vast 121,000 square miles. Patients seeking a Chest CT Scan typically pay between $52 and $505, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $169 based on negotiated insurance rates from over 1,300 active providers. New Mexico maintains many qualified Chest CT Scan facilities from Albuquerque's academic medical centers to smaller community hospitals serving rural populations, allowing patients to browse all available providers throughout the state.
Average
$242
Median
$169
Lowest
$52
Highest
$505
Providers
1,300
20% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does ct chest compare to related procedures in New Mexico?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $98 | $315 | $1,063 | 1,235 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $57 | $198 | $588 | 1,220 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $62 | $188 | $720 | 1,236 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $75 | $230 | $801 | 1,315 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 71260 — CT chest with contrast). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 71260 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 71260 (CT chest with contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 71260 covers: the provider's professional fee for ct chest. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Why Chest CT Scan Visit Costs Vary Across New Mexico
New Mexico's Chest CT Scan costs run approximately 3% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower overall healthcare spending and rural market dynamics. The Land of Enchantment's sparse population density and limited specialist networks create unique cost pressures different from more urbanized states.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Albuquerque and Santa Fe concentrate most of New Mexico's advanced imaging capabilities, while rural counties often lack local CT facilities entirely. Patients in areas like Hidalgo, Catron, or Harding counties frequently travel 100+ miles for imaging services, though they may find more affordable pricing at smaller regional hospitals.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned outpatient imaging centers dominate New Mexico's market, with Presbyterian Healthcare Services and University of New Mexico Health System operating multiple locations across the state. Independent radiology groups maintain lower overhead costs and often provide more competitive pricing than hospital-affiliated facilities.
Insurance Market Competition in New Mexico
Limited insurer competition with BCBS NM, UHC, and Molina controlling most of the market results in less aggressive rate negotiations compared to more competitive states. This concentrated market structure often translates to higher negotiated rates for imaging services, particularly in rural areas with single-provider dominance.
Physician Supply and Demand in New Mexico
With over 1,300 active Chest CT Scan providers serving approximately 2.1 million residents, New Mexico maintains adequate imaging capacity in urban areas but faces significant shortages in rural regions. This geographic mismatch creates longer wait times and higher costs in underserved areas while urban markets remain more competitive.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Chest CT Scan Costs in New Mexico
What is the average cost of a Chest CT Scan visit in New Mexico without insurance?
Does New Mexico Medicaid cover Chest CT Scan visits?
How do I find an affordable Chest CT Scan near me in New Mexico?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Chest CT Scan visit in New Mexico?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Chest CT Scan in New Mexico?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 71260)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota Range: $118 – $7,881 | $2,723 |
| 2 | Minnesota Range: $80 – $7,881 | $2,711 |
| 3 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $863 | $363 |
| 4 | Georgia Range: $61 – $699 | $319 |
| 5 | Wyoming Range: $54 – $598 | $287 |
| 6 | Nevada Range: $80 – $453 | $272 |
| 7 | Maine Range: $93 – $439 | $262 |
| 8 | Nebraska Range: $108 – $415 | $246 |
| 9 | Hawaii Range: $67 – $348 | $243 |
| 10 | New Mexico Range: $52 – $505 | $242 |
| 11 | Iowa Range: $73 – $424 | $237 |
| 12 | Vermont Range: $49 – $516 | $236 |
| 13 | North Carolina Range: $60 – $443 | $233 |
| 14 | New Hampshire Range: $67 – $446 | $232 |
| 15 | Massachusetts Range: $64 – $454 | $230 |
| 16 | Rhode Island Range: $54 – $454 | $226 |
| 17 | Alaska Range: $54 – $449 | $224 |
| 18 | District of Columbia Range: $49 – $454 | $223 |
| 19 | Colorado Range: $55 – $441 | $218 |
| 20 | Utah Range: $54 – $374 | $212 |
| 21 | California Range: $25 – $521 | $210 |
| 22 | Indiana Range: $54 – $411 | $206 |
| 23 | New York Range: $42 – $443 | $205 |
| 24 | Washington Range: $54 – $384 | $203 |
| 25 | Michigan Range: $57 – $356 | $195 |
| 26 | Illinois Range: $64 – $346 | $192 |
| 27 | Tennessee Range: $61 – $333 | $188 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania Range: $50 – $389 | $185 |
| 29 | West Virginia Range: $64 – $317 | $184 |
| 30 | Virginia Range: $41 – $371 | $182 |
| 31 | Idaho Range: $54 – $321 | $182 |
| 32 | New Jersey Range: $41 – $371 | $181 |
| 33 | Connecticut Range: $54 – $389 | $179 |
| 34 | Texas Range: $54 – $345 | $178 |
| 35 | South Carolina Range: $54 – $339 | $178 |
| 36 | Kansas Range: $59 – $324 | $178 |
| 37 | Oregon Range: $70 – $291 | $177 |
| 38 | South Dakota Range: $134 – $222 | $175 |
| 39 | Alabama Range: $48 – $332 | $173 |
| 40 | Delaware Range: $61 – $273 | $170 |
| 41 | Louisiana Range: $48 – $288 | $169 |
| 42 | Kentucky Range: $54 – $335 | $169 |
| 43 | Arkansas Range: $61 – $278 | $164 |
| 44 | Montana Range: $54 – $263 | $163 |
| 45 | Maryland Range: $24 – $335 | $161 |
| 46 | Mississippi Range: $48 – $307 | $160 |
| 47 | Missouri Range: $64 – $265 | $159 |
| 48 | Oklahoma Range: $51 – $298 | $154 |
| 49 | Ohio Range: $41 – $298 | $154 |
| 50 | Arizona Range: $54 – $267 | $145 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $297 | $131 |