Cost of a Chest CT Scan Visit
in Rhode Island
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Rhode Island's concentrated healthcare market, dominated by major health systems like Lifespan and Care New England, creates a unique pricing landscape for diagnostic imaging services. Patients seeking a Chest CT Scan typically pay between $54 and $454, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $171 based on negotiated insurance rates across 86 active providers. The Ocean State's small geographic footprint means patients can easily browse all providers in Rhode Island to compare costs and find the most affordable option for their needs.
Average
$226
Median
$171
Lowest
$54
Highest
$454
Providers
86
25% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does ct chest compare to related procedures in Rhode Island?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $88 | $321 | $879 | 84 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $59 | $204 | $537 | 84 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $65 | $191 | $527 | 71 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $79 | $283 | $827 | 86 |
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 Rhode Island
Rhode Island's healthcare costs run approximately 13% above the national average, driven by the state's concentrated market dominated by major health systems and limited geographic competition. The Ocean State's small size creates unique dynamics where patients can easily travel between urban Providence and suburban facilities, but hospital consolidation limits true price competition for diagnostic services.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Rhode Island's urban-suburban divide is less pronounced than in larger states, with most imaging facilities concentrated in the Providence metropolitan area and surrounding communities. Patients in more rural areas like Washington County may have fewer immediate options but can easily access Providence-area facilities within a 45-minute drive. This geographic accessibility helps moderate the typical rural healthcare cost premiums seen in other states.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based imaging departments affiliated with Lifespan, Care New England, and other major health systems typically charge higher facility fees than independent radiology practices throughout Rhode Island. These health system facilities carry higher overhead costs due to hospital regulations and staffing requirements, which are passed on to patients through higher imaging fees. Independent imaging centers often offer more competitive pricing while maintaining the same diagnostic quality standards.
Insurance Market Competition in Rhode Island
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island maintains a significant market presence alongside UnitedHealthcare and Tufts Health Plan, creating moderate competition that helps control negotiated rates for imaging services. The state's relatively concentrated insurance market means fewer plan options but more predictable coverage policies across providers. This market structure allows imaging facilities to develop standardized contracts with major payers, potentially reducing administrative costs.
Physician Supply and Demand in Rhode Island
With 86 active Chest CT Scan providers serving Rhode Island's population of just over one million residents, the state maintains adequate radiologist availability relative to demand. This healthy supply-to-population ratio helps prevent the physician shortages that drive up costs in other markets, though most specialists remain concentrated in the Providence area. The presence of Brown University's medical programs also ensures a pipeline of new radiologists entering the Rhode Island market.
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 Rhode Island
What is the average cost of a Chest CT Scan visit in Rhode Island without insurance?
Does Rhode Island Medicaid cover Chest CT Scan visits?
How do I find an affordable Chest CT Scan near me in Rhode Island?
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 Rhode Island?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Chest CT Scan in Rhode Island?
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 |