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
OSF Saint Clare Medical Center Princeton, IL $4,408.80 not published
Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta Mt Shasta, CA $4,422.93 $994.45 – $5,571.30
Sanford Clear Lake Medical Center Clear Lake, SD $4,430.40 $1,215.50 – $4,984.20
MUSC Health Florence Medical Center Florence, SC $4,449.00 $324.48 – $356.93
UnityPoint Health - Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge, IA $4,477.34 $100.51 – $4,757.17
Tug Valley ARH Regional Medical Center Williamson, KY $4,486.20 $206.48 – $760.00
Providence Mount Carmel Hospital Colville, WA $4,516.40 not published
Southern Virginia Medical Center Emporia, VA $4,545.60 not published
St. Michael Medical Center Silverdale, WA $4,653.62 $1,440.56 – $9,489.69
AdventHealth Polk Columbus, NC $4,669.46 not published
California Hospital Medical Center Los Angeles, CA $4,672.01 $403.15 – $7,610.07
OSF Healthcare Saint Katharine Medical Center Dixon, IL $4,674.60 $373.86 – $373.86
Providence Mission Hospital - Mission Viejo Mission Viejo, CA $4,679.52 $381.40 – $830.11
HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital HIGHLAND, IL $4,680.72 $821.22 – $6,501.00
Providence St Mary Medical Center Walla Walla, WA $4,686.50 $340.77 – $719.22
Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital Palos Heights, IL $4,706.80 not published
Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital IL 60190, IL $4,706.80 not published
Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital DeKalb, IL $4,706.80 not published
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital DBA Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital Lake Forest, IL $4,706.80 not published
Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Geneva, IL $4,706.80 not published
Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital Wheaton, IL $4,706.80 not published
Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital McHenry, IL $4,706.80 not published
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL $4,706.80 not published
Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Mission Hills, CA $4,739.70 $448.71 – $2,200.12
Mary Immaculate Hospital Newport News, VA $4,750.20 not published
Maryview Hospital Portsmouth, VA $4,750.20 not published
Harbour View Medical Center Suffolk, VA $4,750.20 not published
OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center – Urbana Danville, IL $4,771.20 $373.86 – $381.34
Providence Holy Family Hospital Spokane, WA $4,781.70 $388.77 – $1,317.13
St. John's Camarillo Hospital Camarillo, CA $4,796.10 $453.77 – $8,541.00
St Anne Hospital Toledo, OH $4,807.80 not published
St. Luke's Health - Patients Medical Center Pasadena, TX $4,822.30 $312.67 – $10,333.50
UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell, IA $4,822.67 $100.51 – $2,429.42
OSF Saint Paul Medical Center Mendota, IL $4,840.00 not published
MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque, IA $4,841.20 $312.99 – $7,448.00
Bethesda Hospital East BOYNTON BEACH, FL $4,846.40 $255.55 – $6,710.40
Doctors Hospital CORAL GABLES, FL $4,846.40 $247.73 – $6,710.40
Baptist Health Hospital Doral SOUTH MIAMI, FL $4,846.40 $247.73 – $6,710.40
Fishermens Community Hospital MARATHON, FL $4,846.40 $247.73 – $6,710.40
Homestead Hospital HOMESTEAD, FL $4,846.40 $167.89 – $6,710.40
Mariners Hospital TAVERNIER, FL $4,846.40 $247.73 – $6,710.40
West Kendall Baptist Hospital MIAMI, FL $4,846.40 $247.73 – $6,710.40
Baptist Hospital MIAMI, FL $4,846.40 $173.17 – $6,710.40
UPMC Wellsboro Wellsboro, PA $4,850.40 $344.32 – $2,380.18
Sanford USD Medical Center Sioux Falls, SD $4,865.60 $170.46 – $5,473.80
St. Elizabeth Community Hospital Red Bluff, CA $4,872.32 $453.77 – $8,176.14
MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton, IA $4,882.80 $321.26 – $7,512.00
Dell Children's Medical Center (Ascension Seton) Austin, TX $4,970.18 $275.11 – $3,097.24
Mercy Hospital Ardmore Northwest Ardmore, OK $5,022.55 $184.04 – $2,158.33
HCA FLORIDA TWIN CITIES HOSPITAL DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FL $5,030.00 $828.27 – $3,669.95

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