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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Hospitals | South Charleston, WV | $3,091.50 | $63.57 – $1,685.38 |
| SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Centralia | Centralia, IL | $3,097.05 | $373.86 – $392.55 |
| SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital - Mt. Vernon | Mount Vernon, IL | $3,097.05 | $373.86 – $392.55 |
| Mercy Hospital of Folsom | Folsom, CA | $3,098.39 | $212.56 – $6,531.30 |
| Mercy Hospital Ardmore | Northwest Ardmore, OK | $3,129.75 | $162.10 – $1,164.82 |
| Franklin Memorial Hospital | Farmington, ME | $3,136.80 | $84.11 – $2,625.50 |
| Barbourville ARH Hospital | Barbourville, KY | $3,138.60 | $760.00 – $760.00 |
| UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital | Madison, WI | $3,141.13 | $78.77 – $2,191.00 |
| St. Bernardine Medical Center | San Bernardino, CA | $3,141.19 | $380.88 – $7,735.06 |
| Middlesboro ARH Hospital | Middlesboro, KY | $3,151.80 | $244.80 – $760.00 |
| MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center | Waterloo, IA | $3,151.85 | $328.68 – $4,849.00 |
| MercyOne Cedar Falls Medical Center | Cedar Falls, IA | $3,151.85 | $328.68 – $4,849.00 |
| Corewell Health Lakeland St. Joseph | St Joseph, MI | $3,155.00 | $347.62 – $721.47 |
| Corewell Health Lakeland Watervliet | Watervliet, MI | $3,155.00 | $351.38 – $527.07 |
| Sanford Medical Center Hillsboro | Hillsboro, ND | $3,162.40 | $607.75 – $3,557.70 |
| Sanford Medical Center Mayville | Mayville, ND | $3,162.40 | $607.75 – $3,557.70 |
| Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital | Spokane, WA | $3,166.80 | $388.77 – $1,374.66 |
| Sanford Vermillion Hospital | Vermillion, SD | $3,169.60 | $1,168.79 – $3,565.80 |
| Providence Mission Hospital - Mission Viejo | Mission Viejo, CA | $3,194.40 | $381.40 – $830.11 |
| Siena Hospital | Henderson, NV | $3,234.30 | $189.74 – $9,831.12 |
| Mansfield Hospital | Mansfield, OH | $3,240.90 | $333.12 – $346.44 |
| Shelby Hospital | Shelby, OH | $3,240.90 | not published |
| St Francis Medical Center | Midlothian, VA | $3,280.80 | not published |
| SSM Health Monroe Hospital | Monroe, WI | $3,281.30 | $338.87 – $609.58 |
| Sanford Chamberlain Medical Center | Chamberlain, SD | $3,285.60 | $1,404.59 – $3,696.30 |
| Sanford USD Medical Center | Sioux Falls, SD | $3,289.60 | $170.46 – $3,700.80 |
| Emory Decatur Hospital | Decatur, GA | $3,290.00 | $349.93 – $954.63 |
| Emory Long-Term Acute Care Hospital | Decatur, GA | $3,290.00 | $364.31 – $364.31 |
| Emory Johns Creek Hospital | Johns Creek, GA | $3,290.00 | $354.36 – $954.63 |
| Emory Hillandale Hospital | Lithonia, GA | $3,290.00 | $349.93 – $954.63 |
| Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital | Atlanta, GA | $3,290.00 | $354.36 – $954.63 |
| Emory University Hospital Midtown | Atlanta, GA | $3,290.00 | $354.36 – $954.63 |
| Emory Rehabilitation Hospital | Atlanta, GA | $3,290.00 | $362.70 – $954.63 |
| Emory University Hospital | Ne, GA | $3,290.00 | $349.93 – $954.63 |
| HSHS St. Francis Hospital | LITCHFIELD, IL | $3,332.16 | $505.16 – $4,628.00 |
| OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center | Rockford, IL | $3,343.80 | $225.97 – $1,308.51 |
| Sanford Luverne Medical Center | Luverne, MN | $3,344.00 | $374.99 – $3,762.00 |
| Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center | Aberdeen, SD | $3,348.00 | $339.27 – $3,766.50 |
| Sanford Clear Lake Medical Center | Clear Lake, SD | $3,362.40 | $1,215.50 – $3,782.70 |
| Banner Page Hospital | Page, AZ | $3,372.89 | $77.68 – $2,855.64 |
| Sanford Bagley Medical Center | Bagley, MN | $3,376.80 | $374.99 – $3,798.90 |
| Sanford Bemidji Medical Center | Bemidji, MN | $3,376.80 | $277.45 – $3,798.90 |
| OSF Saint Francis Medical Center | Peoria, IL | $3,379.80 | $225.97 – $1,270.98 |
| Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center | Thief River Falls, MN | $3,382.40 | $374.99 – $3,805.20 |
| Sanford Behavioral Health Thief River Falls | Thief River Falls, MN | $3,382.40 | $374.99 – $3,805.20 |
| Beckley ARH Hospital | Beckley, WV | $3,384.60 | $307.95 – $1,539.56 |
| Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center | Hazard, KY | $3,384.60 | $290.23 – $760.00 |
| Sanford Canby Medical Center | Canby, MN | $3,407.20 | $374.99 – $3,833.10 |
| OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center | Alton, IL | $3,435.60 | $373.86 – $381.34 |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center | Sheldon, IA | $3,452.80 | $1,230.06 – $3,884.40 |