Lower Back (Lumbar Spine) MRI (with and without contrast) cost at US hospitals

MRI lumbar spine without and with contrast · CPT 72158

What is Lower Back (Lumbar Spine) MRI (with and without contrast)? Read the full explainer →

Lower Back (Lumbar Spine) MRI (with and without contrast)

This lumbar MRI is done twice, before and after a gadolinium injection. Doctors choose this version, rather than the plain one, when scar tissue has to be told apart from a new problem — most often after previous back surgery, or when infection or tumor is the concern.

$257.25

lowest cash price

$3,097.92

national median

$29,180.61

highest cash price

934

hospitals with a published cash price

Middle half of hospitals (25th–75th percentile) against the full range. The same procedure varies $257.25–$29,180.61 — the variation is the story.

Cheapest published cash price

$257.25

Mercy Primary Care - Bernie — Bernie, MO

Most expensive published cash price

$29,180.61

HCA HOUSTON SOUTHEAST — PASADENA, TX

Median cash price over time

Sep 1, 2025 ($2,183.30) → Sep 1, 2026 ($8,058.00)

By state

State Hospitals Lowest cash Median Highest
Alaska 4 $1,954.68 $5,265.00 $6,098.04
Arizona 22 $420.62 $630.92 $4,047.09
Arkansas 7 $905.70 $1,704.87 $6,555.00
California 90 $810.00 $3,617.72 $13,848.54
Colorado 17 $457.89 $7,768.59 $24,445.85
Florida 80 $654.35 $9,429.95 $25,822.15
Georgia 25 $2,122.00 $2,370.03 $7,523.12
Hawaii 2 $1,125.12 $1,125.12 $2,610.00
Illinois 51 $1,350.00 $4,119.60 $6,309.36
Indiana 26 $582.60 $1,003.50 $4,317.77
Iowa 30 $1,643.20 $3,803.15 $7,543.00
Kansas 11 $1,806.40 $6,046.72 $17,932.14
Kentucky 25 $1,177.72 $4,051.80 $19,528.35
Louisiana 1 $893.88 $893.88 $893.88
Maine 7 $2,183.30 $3,301.70 $3,956.45
Maryland 2 $436.20 $436.20 $436.20
Michigan 27 $360.49 $3,412.00 $6,354.40
Minnesota 19 $912.00 $3,850.40 $4,399.20
Mississippi 11 $358.82 $1,501.92 $2,131.65
Missouri 21 $257.25 $2,474.45 $18,608.92
Montana 2 $2,504.00 $2,504.00 $2,889.60
Nebraska 13 $1,312.38 $1,966.02 $4,401.30
Nevada 3 $2,926.43 $3,313.01 $3,668.55
New Hampshire 1 $8,730.55 $8,730.55 $8,730.55
New Jersey 21 $390.30 $796.39 $1,154.98
New Mexico 2 $3,097.92 $3,097.92 $3,097.92
New York 22 $422.61 $422.61 $10,044.00
North Carolina 15 $1,861.50 $2,656.05 $7,540.00
North Dakota 4 $3,861.60 $3,924.00 $4,228.00
Ohio 55 $1,496.00 $2,197.00 $6,889.20
Oklahoma 16 $1,396.84 $2,889.25 $5,443.00
Oregon 13 $405.00 $1,926.72 $3,825.00
Pennsylvania 32 $700.50 $2,713.80 $9,808.20
South Carolina 11 $1,187.00 $2,517.60 $7,770.00
South Dakota 7 $3,938.40 $4,230.40 $4,865.60
Tennessee 38 $656.19 $953.70 $20,105.43
Texas 111 $1,250.03 $3,200.98 $29,180.61
Virginia 43 $656.19 $3,315.50 $17,753.00
Washington 32 $1,791.60 $3,039.24 $5,103.70
West Virginia 17 $1,445.50 $1,971.50 $4,051.80
Wisconsin 33 $1,100.67 $3,045.91 $6,685.06
Wyoming 4 $1,200.78 $1,736.87 $1,841.03

All hospitals

Hospital Location Cash price Negotiated range
Ascension St. Vincent Randolph (St. Vincent Randolph Hospital, Inc.) Winchester, IN $2,995.20 $59.65 – $700.00
Mercy Orthopedic Hospital Springfield Ozark, MO $2,998.45 $180.93 – $1,956.02
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison Madison, WI $3,009.05 $254.15 – $2,132.97
Camden Clark Medical Center Parkersburg, WV $3,009.50 $81.84 – $582.78
Providence Medford Medical Center Medford, OR $3,036.75 $353.56 – $883.90
St. Clare Hospital Lakewood, WA $3,039.24 $1,002.46 – $7,908.07
Marcum Wallace Hospital Irvine, KY $3,039.60 not published
French Hospital San Luis Obispo, CA $3,044.28 $447.95 – $2,111.00
Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Ozaukee Campus (Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Milwaukee, Inc.) Mequon, WI $3,045.91 $179.52 – $828.27
Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Milwaukee Campus (Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Milwaukee, Inc.) Milwaukee, WI $3,045.91 $179.52 – $828.27
OSF St Joseph Medical Center Bloomington, IL $3,053.40 $373.86 – $381.34
Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center Tarzana, CA $3,054.10 $448.71 – $2,200.12
Providence Seaside Hospital Seaside, OR $3,063.00 not published
Ascension St. Vincent Williamsport (St. Vincent Williamsport Hospital, Inc.) Williamsport, IN $3,070.20 $59.65 – $700.00
Mercy Hospital Southeast Cape Girardeau, MO $3,075.80 $230.63 – $2,241.93
Thomas Hospitals South Charleston, WV $3,091.50 $81.84 – $1,685.38
Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital Hobbs, NM $3,097.92 $346.06 – $484.48
Mercy Hospital of Folsom Folsom, CA $3,098.39 $241.35 – $6,531.30
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Janesville Janesville, WI $3,102.55 $263.55 – $2,032.98
CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN $3,111.17 $315.33 – $5,148.50
Mercy Hospital Carthage Carthage, MO $3,112.20 $184.04 – $1,833.64
Southeastern Medical Center Cambridge, OH $3,138.85 $330.06 – $343.26
UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital Madison, WI $3,141.13 $101.16 – $2,191.00
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - BUDA Suite 110, TX $3,167.94 $329.13 – $3,959.93
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - PFLUGERVILLE Suite 100, TX $3,167.94 $329.13 – $4,751.91
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - TAYLOR Taylor, TX $3,167.94 $494.01 – $4,223.92
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE EMERGENCY MEDICAL CENTER - CEDAR PARK Cedar Park, TX $3,167.94 $329.13 – $4,751.91
Massena Hospital Massena, NY $3,176.26 not published
Mercy Hospital Pittsburg Pittsburg, KS $3,177.20 $184.04 – $1,722.45
Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital Charlottesville, VA $3,187.00 $347.20 – $357.41
Sentara RMH Medical Center Harrisonburg, VA $3,187.00 $347.20 – $357.41
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center Mansfield, TX $3,191.50 $312.67 – $1,406.54
Methodist Charlton Medical Center Dallas, TX $3,191.50 $312.67 – $1,370.84
Methodist Midlothian Medical Center Midlothian, TX $3,191.50 $312.67 – $1,346.80
Methodist Dallas Medical Center Dallas, TX $3,191.50 $312.67 – $1,370.84
Methodist Richardson Medical Center Richardson, TX $3,191.50 $312.67 – $1,515.94
Methodist Celina Medical Center Celina, TX $3,191.50 $343.46 – $876.16
Methodist Southlake Medical Center Souhtlake, TX $3,191.50 $312.67 – $1,406.54
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital Saint Louis, MO $3,192.75 $256.65 – $662.62
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - CENTENNIAL Frisco, TX $3,196.33 $329.13 – $3,995.41
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE THE HEART HOSPITAL - DENTON Denton, TX $3,196.33 $329.13 – $3,995.41
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE THE HEART HOSPITAL - MCKINNEY McKinney, TX $3,196.33 $329.13 – $3,995.41
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER Dallas, TX $3,196.33 $329.13 – $3,995.41
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE ALL SAINTS MEDICAL CENTER - FORT WORTH Fort Worth, TX $3,196.33 $329.13 – $3,995.41
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - GRAPEVINE Grapevine, TX $3,196.33 $329.13 – $3,995.41
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - IRVING Irving, TX $3,196.33 $329.13 – $3,995.41
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - LAKE POINTE Rowlett, TX $3,196.33 $329.13 – $3,995.41
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - MCKINNEY McKinney, TX $3,196.33 $329.13 – $3,995.41
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - FRISCO AT PGA PARKWAY Frisco, TX $3,196.33 $329.13 – $3,995.41
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - PLANO Plano, TX $3,196.33 $329.13 – $3,995.41

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