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
Sentara Albemarle Regional Medical Center Elizabeth City, NC $1,861.50 $333.46 – $340.13
Virginia Mason Medical Center Seattle, WA $1,877.82 $10.47 – $2,022.35
United Hospital Center Bridgeport, WV $1,886.00 $81.84 – $629.39
CHI Saint Joseph Health - Flaget Memorial Hospital Bardstown, KY $1,902.48 $755.26 – $4,080.44
UPMC Cole Coudersport, PA $1,907.40 $355.95 – $2,543.20
Advocate Christ Medical Center Oak Lawn, IL $1,915.00 $539.81 – $3,064.00
Grady Memorial Hospital Delaware, OH $1,924.65 $336.39 – $349.85
PORTLAND ADVENTIST MEDICAL CENTER Portland, OR $1,926.72 $310.23 – $10,837.80
MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital Puyallup, WA $1,928.40 $316.75 – $1,705.83
MultiCare Auburn Medical Center Auburn, WA $1,928.40 $309.60 – $1,705.83
MultiCare Covington Medical Center Covington, WA $1,928.40 $309.60 – $1,705.83
MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital Tacoma, WA $1,928.40 $315.30 – $2,897.70
MultiCare Allenmore Hospital Tacoma, WA $1,928.40 $316.88 – $1,705.83
64-0844470 MBMC Yazoo Yazoo City, MS $1,942.17 $312.52 – $318.77
St Elias Specialty Hospital Anchorage, AK $1,954.68 $339.95 – $772.93
Ascension Seton Highland Lakes (Ascension Seton) Burnet, TX $1,962.45 $275.11 – $3,097.24
St. Luke's Health Memorial Lufkin Lufkin, TX $1,965.90 $439.13 – $11,795.40
St. Luke's Health Memorial San Augustine San Augustine, TX $1,965.90 $439.13 – $13,630.24
St. Luke's Health Memorial Livingston Livingston, TX $1,965.90 $439.13 – $11,795.40
CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs, IA $1,966.02 $416.79 – $3,978.85
CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center - Bergan Mercy Omaha, NE $1,966.02 $416.79 – $3,978.85
Lasting Hope Recovery Center Omaha, NE $1,966.02 $795.77 – $3,978.85
CHI Health Immanuel Omaha, NE $1,966.02 $416.79 – $3,978.85
CHI Health Lakeside Omaha, NE $1,966.02 $416.79 – $3,978.85
CHI Health Midlands Papillion, NE $1,966.02 $416.79 – $3,978.85
St. Joseph's Hospital Buckhannon, WV $1,971.50 not published
Henry Ford Warren Hospital Warren, MI $1,972.32 $238.97 – $1,293.29
martin north hospital Stuart, FL $2,002.00 $88.71 – $1,540.00
indian river hospital Vero Beach, FL $2,002.00 $106.11 – $2,464.00
SAN JOAQUIN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL Bakersfield, CA $2,003.40 $17.09 – $1,698.00
New Ulm Medical Center MN 56073, MN $2,018.46 $341.56 – $2,947.64
Jackson General Hospital Ripley, WV $2,029.50 not published
Berger Hospital Circleville, OH $2,029.95 $336.39 – $336.39
64-0881013 MBMC Jackson Jackson, MS $2,046.87 $324.22 – $907.82
Covenant Hospital Levelland Levelland, TX $2,066.82 $339.95 – $1,047.33
MID-COLUMBIA MEDICAL CENTER The Dalles, OR $2,076.00 $104.15 – $342.00
West Virginia University Hospitals Morgantown, WV $2,096.00 $81.84 – $1,422.66
Emory Hospital Perry Perry, GA $2,122.00 $307.95 – $954.63
Emory Hospital Warner Robins Warner Robins, GA $2,122.00 $312.52 – $954.63
Hardin Memorial Hospital Kenton, OH $2,123.55 not published
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL $2,125.00 $539.81 – $3,400.00
45-2896080 MBMC Leake Carthage, MS $2,131.65 $312.52 – $318.77
SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Shawnee Shawnee, OK $2,141.70 $317.58 – $803.54
ST HELENA HOSPITAL Vallejo, CA $2,149.20 $17.09 – $3,089.98
Barnesville Hospital Barnesville, OH $2,156.00 not published
Providence Centralia Hospital Centralia, WA $2,159.04 $403.99 – $2,378.93
MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport, IA $2,162.40 $341.85 – $478.59
Ascension St. Vincent Warrick (St. Mary's Warrick Hospital, Inc.) Boonville, IN $2,176.20 $59.65 – $700.00
Ascension St. Vincent Evansville (St. Mary's Health, Inc.) IN 47750|10388 Warrick Wellness Trail Newburgh, IN $2,176.20 $82.27 – $700.00
CHI Memorial Hospital - Georgia Ringgold, GA $2,177.08 $511.65 – $5,957.55

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