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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitesburg ARH Hospital | Whitesburg, KY | $3,469.20 | $189.63 – $760.00 |
| HCA FLORIDA BRANDON HOSPITAL | TAMPA, FL | $3,475.43 | $828.27 – $5,581.20 |
| Sequoia Hospital | Redwood City, CA | $3,477.30 | $380.88 – $7,833.46 |
| Sunnyside Medical Center | CLACKAMAS, OR | $3,485.00 | $592.00 – $592.00 |
| Westside Medical Center | HILLSBORO, OR | $3,485.00 | $592.00 – $592.00 |
| OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center | Ottawa, IL | $3,491.40 | $373.86 – $381.34 |
| OSF Little Company of Mary Medical Center | Evergreen Park, IL | $3,496.80 | $176.81 – $695.38 |
| Sanford Westbrook Hospital | Westbrook, MN | $3,508.00 | $374.99 – $3,946.50 |
| Sanford Tracy Hospital | Tracy, MN | $3,508.00 | $374.99 – $3,946.50 |
| OSF Saint Clare Medical Center | Princeton, IL | $3,513.60 | not published |
| HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital | Shelbyville, IL | $3,514.32 | $1,289.52 – $2,862.00 |
| Northridge Hospital Medical Center | Northridge, CA | $3,517.64 | $380.88 – $12,608.00 |
| HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital | Breese, IL | $3,517.92 | $352.85 – $4,886.00 |
| Sanford Fargo Medical Center | Fargo, ND | $3,528.80 | $277.95 – $3,969.90 |
| Dell Children's Medical Center (Ascension Seton) | Austin, TX | $3,542.70 | $241.65 – $2,715.03 |
| Baptist Health Floyd | New Albany, IN | $3,543.47 | $167.37 – $7,086.95 |
| Baptist Health Hardin | Elizabethtown, KY | $3,543.47 | $752.00 – $9,449.26 |
| Baptist Health Corbin | Corbin, KY | $3,543.47 | $561.00 – $9,449.26 |
| Baptist Health La Grange | La Grange, KY | $3,543.47 | $543.00 – $9,449.26 |
| Baptist Health Lexington | Lexington, KY | $3,543.47 | $542.00 – $9,605.17 |
| Baptist Health Louisville | Louisville, KY | $3,543.47 | $245.23 – $9,449.26 |
| Baptist Health Paducah | Paducah, KY | $3,543.47 | $467.00 – $9,449.26 |
| Sanford Medical Center Bismarck | Bismarck, ND | $3,555.20 | $277.95 – $3,999.60 |
| HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital | HIGHLAND, IL | $3,556.08 | $821.22 – $4,939.00 |
| Providence Holy Family Hospital | Spokane, WA | $3,604.30 | $388.77 – $1,317.13 |
| Boca Raton Regional Hospital | BOCA RATON, FL | $3,612.70 | $357.78 – $3,629.37 |
| MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center | Lancaster, SC | $3,615.50 | $339.02 – $372.92 |
| Sanford Hospital Webster | Webster, SD | $3,616.00 | $1,419.28 – $4,068.00 |
| UPMC Wellsboro | Wellsboro, PA | $3,689.60 | $344.32 – $1,350.45 |
| Glendale Memorial Hospital Health Center | Glendale, CA | $3,735.96 | $380.88 – $9,168.00 |
| Tug Valley ARH Regional Medical Center | Williamson, KY | $3,747.00 | $206.48 – $760.00 |
| Providence Holy Cross Medical Center | Mission Hills, CA | $3,769.85 | $448.71 – $1,187.61 |
| SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Midwest | Midwest City, OK | $3,833.97 | $279.73 – $892.83 |
| Dominican Hospital | Santa Cruz, CA | $3,835.35 | $380.88 – $7,244.55 |
| Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta | Mt Shasta, CA | $3,839.43 | $845.55 – $4,836.30 |
| Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center | Kodiak, AK | $3,841.50 | not published |
| CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Emergency Center - Alon | San Antonio, TX | $3,872.88 | $167.67 – $2,372.00 |
| Yavapai Regional Medical Center (East) | Prescott, AZ | $3,878.44 | $164.90 – $306.78 |
| OSF Saint Paul Medical Center | Mendota, IL | $3,886.40 | not published |
| UnityPoint Health - Trinity Regional Medical Center | Fort Dodge, IA | $3,888.77 | $78.25 – $4,131.82 |
| HCA FLORIDA CAPITAL HOSPITAL | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $3,902.35 | $828.27 – $5,273.20 |
| AdventHealth Polk | Columbus, NC | $3,906.21 | not published |
| Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center | Burbank, CA | $3,918.60 | $448.71 – $2,296.91 |
| CHI Health Plainview | Plainview, NE | $3,918.60 | $2,845.65 – $6,317.35 |
| CHI Health Schuyler | Schuyler, NE | $3,965.25 | $999.25 – $5,281.72 |
| Corewell Health Gross Pointe | Grosse Pointe, MI | $3,986.00 | $323.42 – $1,052.06 |
| Corewell Health Taylor | Taylor, MI | $3,986.00 | $323.42 – $1,052.06 |
| Corewell Health Troy | Troy, MI | $3,986.00 | $323.29 – $1,052.06 |
| Corewell Health Wayne | Wayne, MI | $3,986.00 | $323.42 – $1,052.06 |
| Corewell Health Trenton | Trenton, MI | $3,986.00 | $323.42 – $1,052.06 |