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
Morgan County ARH Hospital Liberty, KY $3,576.00 $760.00 – $760.00
Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital South Boston, VA $3,593.50 $349.95 – $360.24
UPMC Horizon-Greenville Greenville, PA $3,601.80 $304.83 – $2,417.12
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center Peoria, IL $3,613.20 $257.15 – $1,270.98
St. Bernardine Medical Center San Bernardino, CA $3,617.72 $447.95 – $8,908.48
Siena Hospital Henderson, NV $3,668.55 $189.74 – $11,151.09
Banner Lassen Medical Center Susanville, CA $3,672.12 $71.43 – $6,271.05
Canton-Potsdam Hospital Potsdam, NY $3,681.82 $181.69 – $211.97
St. Elizabeth Hospital Enumclaw, WA $3,725.91 $877.03 – $9,489.69
SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, OK $3,742.20 $317.58 – $718.05
ARH Our Lady of the Way Hospital Martin, KY $3,754.80 $760.00 – $760.00
Barbourville ARH Hospital Barbourville, KY $3,754.80 $760.00 – $760.00
Middlesboro ARH Hospital Middlesboro, KY $3,774.00 $244.80 – $760.00
MercyOne New Hampton Medical Center New Hampton, IA $3,803.15 $2,316.41 – $5,851.00
MercyOne Elkader Medical Center Elkader, IA $3,803.15 $3,011.51 – $6,115.47
MercyOne Newton Medical Center Newton, IA $3,803.15 $330.23 – $5,851.00
MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center Oelwein, IA $3,803.15 $2,236.25 – $5,851.00
Arroyo Grande Hospital Santa Maria, CA $3,805.78 $447.95 – $6,622.84
Emory Decatur Hospital Decatur, GA $3,812.00 $349.93 – $954.63
Emory Long-Term Acute Care Hospital Decatur, GA $3,812.00 $413.56 – $413.56
Emory Hillandale Hospital Lithonia, GA $3,812.00 $349.93 – $954.63
Emory Johns Creek Hospital Johns Creek, GA $3,812.00 $354.36 – $954.63
Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital Atlanta, GA $3,812.00 $354.36 – $954.63
Emory University Hospital Midtown Atlanta, GA $3,812.00 $354.36 – $954.63
Emory Rehabilitation Hospital Atlanta, GA $3,812.00 $362.70 – $954.63
Emory University Hospital Ne, GA $3,812.00 $349.93 – $954.63
Sunnyside Medical Center CLACKAMAS, OR $3,825.00 $592.00 – $592.00
Westside Medical Center HILLSBORO, OR $3,825.00 $592.00 – $592.00
UPMC Northwest Seneca, PA $3,827.40 $308.78 – $2,417.12
SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Midwest Midwest City, OK $3,833.97 $317.58 – $718.05
Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz, CA $3,835.35 $447.95 – $7,244.55
Providence St Luke's Rehabilitation Medical Center Spokane, WA $3,837.33 $375.68 – $427.64
Providence St Joseph Hospital Chewelah, WA $3,847.90 not published
Sanford Wheaton Wheaton, MN $3,850.40 $374.99 – $4,331.70
Sanford Medical Center Bismarck Bismarck, ND $3,861.60 $327.88 – $4,344.30
OSF Little Company of Mary Medical Center Evergreen Park, IL $3,879.00 $225.91 – $695.38
Redwood Memorial Hospital Fortuna, CA $3,894.36 $7,313.44 – $7,313.44
Sanford Medical Center Hillsboro Hillsboro, ND $3,924.00 $607.75 – $4,414.50
Sanford Medical Center Mayville Mayville, ND $3,924.00 $607.75 – $4,414.50
CHI Health St. Mary's Nebraska City, NE $3,927.56 $1,013.60 – $4,542.72
Sanford Canton Inwood Medical Center Canton, SD $3,938.40 $1,683.67 – $4,430.70
Sequoia Hospital Redwood City, CA $3,938.85 $447.95 – $8,873.22
Yavapai Regional Medical Center (East) Prescott, AZ $3,943.73 $218.45 – $361.98
Franklin Memorial Hospital Farmington, ME $3,956.45 $107.81 – $3,311.55
HSHS St. Francis Hospital LITCHFIELD, IL $3,983.04 $505.16 – $5,532.00
UPMC Muncy Muncy, PA $4,010.40 $344.32 – $2,793.04
UPMC Williamsport Williamsport, PA $4,010.40 $343.82 – $2,884.11
OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center Alton, IL $4,033.80 $373.86 – $381.34
Sanford Bagley Medical Center Bagley, MN $4,034.40 $374.99 – $4,538.70
Sanford Bemidji Medical Center Bemidji, MN $4,034.40 $277.45 – $4,538.70

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