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
Atrium Health Anson Wadesboro, NC $2,656.05 $97.35 – $5,046.50
Atrium Health Lincoln Lincolnton, NC $2,656.05 $97.35 – $5,046.50
Atrium Health Mercy Charlotte, NC $2,656.05 $97.35 – $4,887.13
Atrium Health Pineville Charlotte, NC $2,656.05 $97.35 – $4,887.13
Atrium Health Stanly Albermarle, NC $2,656.05 $97.35 – $5,099.62
Atrium Health Behavioral Health Charlotte Charlotte, NC $2,656.05 $98.32 – $4,674.65
Atrium Health Cleveland Shelby, NC $2,656.05 $97.35 – $5,046.50
Atrium Health Cabarrus Concord, NC $2,656.05 $97.35 – $5,046.50
Atrium Health Union Monroe, NC $2,656.05 $97.35 – $5,046.50
Carolinas Rehabilitation Charlotte Charlotte, NC $2,656.05 $98.32 – $4,887.13
Atrium Health University City Charlotte, NC $2,656.05 $97.35 – $4,887.13
Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte, NC $2,656.05 $97.35 – $4,780.89
OSF Healthcare Divine Mercy Continuing Care Hospital Peoria, IL $2,665.80 not published
ADVENTIST HEALTH DELANO Delano, CA $2,671.20 $211.50 – $1,648.66
Ascension St. Vincent Mercy (St. Vincent Madison County Health System, Inc.) Elwood, IN $2,687.40 $82.27 – $700.00
Wetzel County Hospital New Martinsville, WV $2,688.00 $81.84 – $624.16
HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital SHEBOYGAN, WI $2,700.06 $179.97 – $1,444.47
HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital OCONTO FALLS, WI $2,700.06 $356.43 – $1,513.40
HSHS St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center GREEN BAY, WI $2,700.06 $179.97 – $1,444.47
HSHS St. Vincent Hospital Green Bay, WI $2,700.06 $186.59 – $1,444.47
UnityPoint Health - Finley Hospital Dubuque, IA $2,707.98 $100.51 – $2,707.98
UPMC Community Osteopathic Harrisburg, PA $2,713.80 $347.79 – $3,844.55
UPMC Hanover Hanover, PA $2,713.80 $337.76 – $2,529.54
UPMC Lititz Lititz, PA $2,713.80 $339.58 – $2,490.89
UPMC Memorial York, PA $2,713.80 $352.39 – $3,294.61
UPMC Somerset Somerset, PA $2,713.80 $309.35 – $2,380.18
UPMC Carlisle Carlisle, PA $2,713.80 $338.22 – $3,844.55
Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL $2,750.00 $539.81 – $4,400.00
St. Mary Medical Center Long Beach, CA $2,755.87 $403.15 – $6,409.00
Advocate Sherman Hospital Elgin, IL $2,785.00 $539.81 – $5,013.00
Defiance Hospital Defiance, OH $2,811.60 not published
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Bakersfield, CA $2,813.06 $447.95 – $6,055.35
O'Bleness Hospital Athens, OH $2,832.70 $333.12 – $336.45
Ascension St. Vincent Jennings (St. Vincent Jennings Hospital, Inc.) Vernon, IN $2,837.40 $82.27 – $700.00
Mercy Hospitals – Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA $2,843.72 $447.95 – $6,132.00
Wamego Health Center (Wamego Hospital Association) Wamego, KS $2,849.20 $89.37 – $763.86
Rappahannock General Hospital Kilmarnock, VA $2,855.40 not published
UPMC Bedford Everett, PA $2,884.20 $122.85 – $4,326.30
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Cleveland OH 44106|3999 Richmond Road, OH $2,886.75 $330.06 – $594.11
Mercy Hospital Watonga Watonga, OK $2,889.25 $184.04 – $801.97
Providence St Joseph Medical Center Polson, MT $2,889.60 $1,202.18 – $1,202.18
Mercy Hospital Kingfisher Kingfisher, OK $2,893.15 $184.04 – $801.97
Providence Saint John's Health Center Santa Monica, CA $2,895.55 $448.71 – $1,316.74
University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center Ashland, OH $2,919.75 $338.34 – $609.01
Banner Churchill Community Hospital Fallon, NV $2,926.43 $1,438.32 – $5,310.72
RIDEOUT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Marysville, CA $2,938.32 $195.39 – $13,648.80
UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA $2,946.00 $309.35 – $2,417.12
Mercy Orthopedic Hospital Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR $2,952.30 $184.04 – $1,885.99
Princeton Community Hospital Princeton, WV $2,992.50 $81.84 – $2,077.40
Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, OK $2,995.20 $184.04 – $2,007.25

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