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
SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo Baraboo, WI $2,448.60 $254.15 – $2,832.84
Ascension Calumet Hospital, Inc. Chilton, WI $2,448.72 $115.76 – $280.34
Van Wert Hospital Van Wert, OH $2,468.05 $358.25 – $365.41
SSM Health DePaul Hospital - St. Louis Bridgeton, MO $2,474.45 $262.74 – $1,249.28
SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital- Wentzville Wentzville, MO $2,474.45 $262.74 – $1,249.28
SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - St. Charles Saint Charles, MO $2,474.45 $262.74 – $1,249.28
SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton Fenton, MO $2,474.45 $262.74 – $1,249.28
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - St. Louis Richmond Heights, MO $2,474.45 $262.74 – $1,249.28
SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - Lake Saint Louis Lake Saint Louis, MO $2,474.45 $262.74 – $1,249.28
CHI Health Mercy Corning Corning, IA $2,485.44 $2,226.54 – $5,074.44
Morrow County Hospital Mount Gilead, OH $2,486.90 $474.40 – $782.76
SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital - Fond du Lac Fond Du Lac, WI $2,488.75 $258.81 – $665.99
SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital Waupun, WI $2,488.75 $872.35 – $872.35
SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital Ripon, WI $2,488.75 $872.35 – $872.35
Mercy Hospital Aurora Aurora, MO $2,496.00 $206.69 – $468.85
WHITE MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER MONTEBELLO, CA $2,498.40 $85.22 – $21,236.40
Ascension St. Vincent Salem (St. Vincent Salem Hospital, Inc.) Salem, IN $2,501.40 $82.27 – $700.00
Arizona General Hospital Mesa Mesa, AZ $2,503.60 $344.74 – $8,281.12
St Patrick Hospital - Broadway Campus Missoula, MT $2,504.00 $359.99 – $1,202.18
St Francis Downtown Greenville, SC $2,517.60 not published
St Francis Eastside Greenville, SC $2,517.60 not published
UnityPoint Health - Allen Hospital Waterloo, IA $2,525.67 $100.51 – $1,663.78
UnityPoint Health - Marshalltown Marshalltown, IA $2,525.67 $100.51 – $1,515.40
SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital Saint Louis, MO $2,530.00 $301.68 – $1,205.31
UPMC Hamot Erie, PA $2,536.20 $281.64 – $2,610.88
CHI Health Missouri Valley Missouri Valley, IA $2,537.22 $1,812.30 – $5,074.44
Ascension Seton Smithville (Ascension Seton) Smithville, TX $2,556.09 $275.11 – $3,097.24
Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin (Ascension Seton) Austin, TX $2,556.09 $275.11 – $3,195.11
Ascension Seton Northwest (Ascension Seton) Austin, TX $2,556.09 $275.11 – $3,195.11
Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas (Ascension Seton) Austin, TX $2,556.09 $275.11 – $3,195.11
Covenant Hospital Plainview Plainview, TX $2,559.48 $339.95 – $1,047.33
MUSC Health Kershaw Medical Center Camden, SC $2,561.50 $337.23 – $370.95
Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital Novi, MI $2,562.00 $202.95 – $891.98
Advocate Trinity Hospital Chicago, IL $2,575.00 $539.81 – $4,120.00
Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, IL $2,575.00 $539.81 – $5,016.10
University Hospitals Beachwood Medical Center Beachwood, OH $2,590.50 $330.06 – $3,108.60
University Hospitals St. John Medical Center Westlake OH, OH $2,590.50 $356.43 – $641.57
University Hospitals Lake West Medical Center Willoughby OH 44094|7590 Auburn Road, OH $2,590.50 $330.06 – $594.11
University Hospitals Parma Medical Center Parma OH 44129|7007 Powers Boulevard, OH $2,590.50 $330.06 – $594.11
University Hospitals Regional Hospitals - Geauga Medical Center Chardon, OH $2,590.50 $330.06 – $594.11
University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center Elyria, OH $2,590.50 $330.06 – $594.11
University Hospitals Portage Medical Center Ravenna OH 44266, OH $2,590.50 $356.43 – $641.57
University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center Beachwood, OH $2,590.50 $330.06 – $3,108.60
cleveland clinic florida weston hospital Weston, FL $2,597.40 $99.15 – $2,618.00
Providence Little Co of Mary Med Center San Pedro San Pedro, CA $2,599.45 $448.71 – $2,200.12
Providence Little Company of Mary Med Center Torrance Torrance, CA $2,599.45 $448.71 – $3,590.31
UPMC Altoona Altoona, PA $2,604.00 $269.00 – $3,472.00
Moanalua Medical Center HONOLULU, HI $2,610.00 $367.00 – $367.00
Mercy Hospital Lincoln Troy, MO $2,631.85 $426.23 – $468.85
Advocate Childrens Hospital - Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL $2,650.00 $539.81 – $4,240.00

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