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
Banner Page Hospital Page, AZ $4,047.09 $99.72 – $3,426.45
Northridge Hospital Medical Center Northridge, CA $4,051.64 $447.95 – $14,522.00
Beckley ARH Hospital Beckley, WV $4,051.80 $81.84 – $1,539.56
Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center Hazard, KY $4,051.80 $102.72 – $760.00
Gouverneur Hospital Gouverneur, NY $4,077.13 $509.74 – $509.74
HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital Shelbyville, IL $4,084.56 $1,289.52 – $2,862.00
Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center Thief River Falls, MN $4,103.20 $374.99 – $4,616.10
Sanford Behavioral Health Thief River Falls Thief River Falls, MN $4,103.20 $374.99 – $4,616.10
Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Grass Valley, CA $4,107.12 $447.95 – $2,123.66
OSF St Mary Medical Center Galesburg, IL $4,119.60 $373.86 – $381.34
Whitesburg ARH Hospital Whitesburg, KY $4,153.80 $102.72 – $760.00
Sanford Chamberlain Medical Center Chamberlain, SD $4,159.20 $1,778.06 – $4,679.10
Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank, CA $4,162.20 $448.71 – $4,255.18
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Emergency Center - Alon San Antonio, TX $4,181.43 $167.67 – $2,372.00
Sanford Vermillion Hospital Vermillion, SD $4,184.80 $1,543.15 – $4,707.90
HSHS Holy Family Hospital GREENVILLE, IL $4,202.64 $370.49 – $2,862.00
Sanford Canby Medical Center Canby, MN $4,217.60 $374.99 – $4,744.80
Sanford Worthington Medical Center Worthington, MN $4,224.80 $283.44 – $4,752.90
Sanford Fargo Medical Center Fargo, ND $4,228.00 $280.20 – $4,756.50
Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center Aberdeen, SD $4,230.40 $339.27 – $4,759.20
Healdsburg Hospital Healdsburg, CA $4,236.57 $470.05 – $2,910.63
OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center Ottawa, IL $4,239.00 $373.86 – $381.34
HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital Breese, IL $4,242.24 $352.85 – $5,892.00
UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's Hospital Cedar Rapids, IA $4,243.06 $100.51 – $1,988.93
Sanford Luverne Medical Center Luverne, MN $4,279.20 $374.99 – $4,814.10
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Centralia Centralia, IL $4,299.35 $373.86 – $392.55
SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital - Mt. Vernon Mount Vernon, IL $4,299.35 $373.86 – $392.55
Glendale Memorial Hospital Health Center Glendale, CA $4,302.88 $447.95 – $10,559.20
Mercy Medical Center Merced Merced, CA $4,308.49 $447.95 – $3,625.58
ADVENTIST HEALTH MENDOCINO COAST Fort Bragg, CA $4,312.44 $107.36 – $5,107.26
Paintsville ARH Hospital Paintsville, KY $4,315.80 $224.83 – $760.00
Harlan ARH Hospital KY 40831, KY $4,315.80 $327.99 – $760.00
MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines, IA $4,317.30 $329.29 – $6,642.00
Baptist Health Floyd New Albany, IN $4,317.77 $192.89 – $8,635.55
Baptist Health Hardin Elizabethtown, KY $4,317.77 $752.00 – $11,514.06
Baptist Health Corbin Corbin, KY $4,317.77 $561.00 – $11,514.06
Baptist Health La Grange La Grange, KY $4,317.77 $543.00 – $11,514.06
Baptist Health Lexington Lexington, KY $4,317.77 $542.00 – $11,704.04
Baptist Health Louisville Louisville, KY $4,317.77 $278.34 – $11,514.06
Baptist Health Paducah Paducah, KY $4,317.77 $467.00 – $11,514.06
Sanford Hospital Webster Webster, SD $4,319.20 $1,695.29 – $4,859.10
Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon, IA $4,326.40 $1,541.28 – $4,867.20
Boca Raton Regional Hospital BOCA RATON, FL $4,345.90 $357.78 – $4,365.96
CHI Health Plainview Plainview, NE $4,349.52 $3,158.58 – $7,012.05
Kadlec Regional Medical Center Richland, WA $4,358.90 $388.77 – $1,493.03
MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster, SC $4,366.50 $339.02 – $372.92
UPMC Kane Kane, PA $4,383.00 $372.90 – $2,629.27
Sanford Westbrook Hospital Westbrook, MN $4,399.20 $374.99 – $4,949.10
Sanford Tracy Hospital Tracy, MN $4,399.20 $374.99 – $4,949.10
CHI Health Schuyler Schuyler, NE $4,401.30 $1,109.13 – $5,862.54

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