Lower Back (Lumbar Spine) MRI (with contrast) cost at US hospitals
MRI lumbar spine with contrast · CPT 72149
$287.17
lowest cash price
$2,441.25
national median
$24,168.58
highest cash price
895
hospitals with a published cash price
Middle half of hospitals (25th–75th percentile) against the full range. The same procedure varies $287.17–$24,168.58 — the variation is the story.
Median cash price over time
Sep 1, 2025 ($1,854.70) → Sep 1, 2026 ($7,495.26)
By state
| State | Hospitals | Lowest cash | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 3 | $1,600.20 | $3,841.50 | $4,972.50 |
| Arizona | 22 | $350.55 | $525.83 | $3,878.44 |
| Arkansas | 7 | $643.80 | $1,527.60 | $5,547.00 |
| California | 89 | $675.00 | $2,917.20 | $10,753.86 |
| Colorado | 17 | $381.52 | $6,882.84 | $21,645.25 |
| Florida | 81 | $622.25 | $6,783.32 | $24,168.58 |
| Georgia | 25 | $1,565.25 | $2,045.55 | $5,212.17 |
| Hawaii | 2 | $846.08 | $846.08 | $1,965.00 |
| Illinois | 51 | $1,275.60 | $3,435.60 | $5,068.80 |
| Indiana | 26 | $582.60 | $890.00 | $3,543.47 |
| Iowa | 22 | $1,167.60 | $2,447.90 | $4,822.67 |
| Kansas | 11 | $1,606.00 | $4,879.79 | $16,294.17 |
| Kentucky | 21 | $837.50 | $3,151.80 | $16,922.09 |
| Louisiana | 1 | $757.90 | $757.90 | $757.90 |
| Maine | 7 | $1,854.70 | $2,133.25 | $3,136.80 |
| Maryland | 1 | $382.80 | $382.80 | $382.80 |
| Michigan | 27 | $287.17 | $2,949.00 | $4,504.80 |
| Minnesota | 19 | $729.74 | $1,848.11 | $3,508.00 |
| Mississippi | 11 | $310.86 | $1,142.87 | $1,535.10 |
| Missouri | 20 | $1,086.80 | $1,791.90 | $18,044.55 |
| Montana | 2 | $2,183.20 | $2,183.20 | $2,448.80 |
| Nebraska | 12 | $1,430.03 | $1,695.54 | $3,965.25 |
| Nevada | 3 | $2,438.69 | $2,920.84 | $3,234.30 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $4,713.95 | $4,713.95 | $4,713.95 |
| New Jersey | 21 | $390.30 | $550.04 | $797.72 |
| New Mexico | 2 | $2,794.68 | $2,794.68 | $2,794.68 |
| New York | 22 | $422.61 | $422.61 | $7,986.00 |
| North Carolina | 15 | $1,798.50 | $2,415.68 | $5,984.00 |
| North Dakota | 4 | $3,162.40 | $3,162.40 | $3,555.20 |
| Ohio | 53 | $1,062.00 | $2,064.40 | $6,082.80 |
| Oklahoma | 16 | $1,054.87 | $1,950.65 | $4,031.00 |
| Oregon | 13 | $315.90 | $1,596.75 | $3,485.00 |
| Pennsylvania | 31 | $635.50 | $2,713.80 | $8,004.00 |
| South Carolina | 10 | $935.00 | $2,112.50 | $13,451.00 |
| South Dakota | 6 | $3,169.60 | $3,289.60 | $3,616.00 |
| Tennessee | 38 | $624.68 | $775.50 | $15,341.70 |
| Texas | 113 | $984.60 | $2,612.85 | $14,833.97 |
| Virginia | 39 | $624.68 | $2,644.00 | $10,276.00 |
| Washington | 32 | $1,467.44 | $2,169.60 | $3,604.30 |
| West Virginia | 15 | $1,228.00 | $1,800.00 | $3,384.60 |
| Wisconsin | 32 | $1,387.01 | $2,210.00 | $3,281.30 |
| Wyoming | 4 | $1,000.86 | $1,447.39 | $1,534.19 |
All hospitals
| Hospital | Location | Cash price | Negotiated range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension St. Vincent Salem (St. Vincent Salem Hospital, Inc.) | Salem, IN | $2,767.20 | $64.01 – $485.37 |
| Massena Hospital | Massena, NY | $2,773.42 | not published |
| Waldo County General Hospital | Belfast, ME | $2,775.00 | $84.11 – $2,614.05 |
| Princeton Community Hospital | Princeton, WV | $2,783.50 | $63.57 – $2,077.40 |
| Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital | Hobbs, NM | $2,794.68 | $346.06 – $484.48 |
| Urbana Hospital | Urbana, OH | $2,814.00 | not published |
| Lincoln Health | Damariscotta, ME | $2,822.25 | $84.11 – $2,562.60 |
| Methodist Mansfield Medical Center | Mansfield, TX | $2,824.00 | $265.05 – $1,370.84 |
| Methodist Charlton Medical Center | Dallas, TX | $2,824.00 | $265.05 – $1,370.84 |
| Methodist Midlothian Medical Center | Midlothian, TX | $2,824.00 | $265.05 – $1,141.67 |
| Methodist Dallas Medical Center | Dallas, TX | $2,824.00 | $265.05 – $1,370.84 |
| Methodist Richardson Medical Center | Richardson, TX | $2,824.00 | $265.05 – $1,515.94 |
| Methodist Celina Medical Center | Celina, TX | $2,824.00 | $306.90 – $876.16 |
| Methodist Southlake Medical Center | Souhtlake, TX | $2,824.00 | $265.05 – $1,370.84 |
| Trinity Medical Center East | Steubenville, OH | $2,833.25 | $1,146.00 – $4,399.01 |
| Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital | Grand Rapids, MI | $2,838.00 | $347.62 – $790.06 |
| Corewell Health Blodgett Hospital | East Grand Rapids, MI | $2,838.00 | $347.62 – $790.06 |
| Lourdes Hospital | Paducah, KY | $2,841.60 | not published |
| SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Janesville | Janesville, WI | $2,844.60 | $263.55 – $1,783.76 |
| Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital | South Boston, VA | $2,862.00 | $349.95 – $360.24 |
| CHI Health St. Francis | Grand Island, NE | $2,871.53 | $366.98 – $4,574.98 |
| Mercy Hospital Pittsburg | Pittsburg, KS | $2,905.50 | $162.10 – $1,722.45 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH MENDOCINO COAST | Fort Bragg, CA | $2,917.20 | $83.78 – $3,111.81 |
| Arroyo Grande Hospital | Santa Maria, CA | $2,918.11 | $380.88 – $5,519.36 |
| CHI Health Good Samaritan | Kearney, NE | $2,919.46 | $366.98 – $4,450.98 |
| San Martin Hospital | Las Vegas, NV | $2,920.84 | $189.74 – $9,831.12 |
| Adventhealth Ocala | Ocala, FL | $2,937.09 | $364.32 – $1,010.67 |
| Corewell Health Pennock | Hastings, MI | $2,949.00 | $674.04 – $674.04 |
| Corewell Health Big Rapids | Big Rapids, MI | $2,949.00 | $347.62 – $674.04 |
| Corewell Health Gerber | Fremont, MI | $2,949.00 | $674.04 – $674.04 |
| Corewell Health Reed City | Po Box 75, MI | $2,949.00 | $674.04 – $674.04 |
| Corewell Health Greenville | Greenville, MI | $2,949.00 | $347.62 – $674.04 |
| Corewell Health Zeeland | Zeeland, MI | $2,949.00 | $347.62 – $674.04 |
| Defiance Hospital | Defiance, OH | $2,958.60 | not published |
| Southeastern Medical Center | Cambridge, OH | $2,970.50 | $330.06 – $343.26 |
| HSHS Holy Family Hospital | GREENVILLE, IL | $2,974.32 | $370.49 – $2,862.00 |
| CHRISTUS Health - West Beaumont | Beaumont, TX | $2,980.23 | $178.86 – $2,372.00 |
| CHI Health St. Mary's | Nebraska City, NE | $2,992.15 | $772.20 – $3,460.80 |
| University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center | Ashland, OH | $2,994.00 | $338.34 – $609.01 |
| OSF St Joseph Medical Center | Bloomington, IL | $2,994.00 | $373.86 – $381.34 |
| Providence St Joseph Hospital | Chewelah, WA | $3,024.70 | not published |
| Kadlec Regional Medical Center | Richland, WA | $3,027.50 | $388.77 – $1,493.03 |
| Sanford Wheaton | Wheaton, MN | $3,036.00 | $374.99 – $3,415.50 |
| Marion General Hospital | Marion, OH | $3,037.45 | $333.12 – $346.44 |
| Gouverneur Hospital | Gouverneur, NY | $3,043.12 | $386.05 – $386.05 |
| UPMC Muncy | Muncy, PA | $3,051.00 | $344.32 – $1,582.59 |
| UPMC Williamsport | Williamsport, PA | $3,051.00 | $343.82 – $1,634.20 |
| Providence St Mary Medical Center | Walla Walla, WA | $3,052.70 | $340.77 – $719.22 |
| Banner Lassen Medical Center | Susanville, CA | $3,060.38 | $71.43 – $5,226.36 |
| St. Michael Medical Center | Silverdale, WA | $3,068.87 | $1,440.56 – $6,258.06 |