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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventhealth Ottawa | Ottawa, KS | $4,879.79 | $328.07 – $854.70 |
| UPMC McKeesport | Mckeesport, PA | $4,936.20 | $315.59 – $1,479.38 |
| Providence Alaska Medical Center | Anchorage, AK | $4,972.50 | $3,889.35 – $3,889.35 |
| Redwood City Medical Center | Redwood City, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| Oakland Medical Center | Oakland, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| Sacramento Medical Center | SACRAMENTO, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| San Leandro Medical Center | SAN LEANDRO, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| Santa Rosa Medical Center | SANTA ROSA, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| Santa Clara Medical Center | SANTA CLARA, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| San Rafael Medical Center | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| South San Francisco Medical Center | SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| South Sacramento Medical Center | SACRAMENTO, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| Vacaville Medical Center | VACAVILLE, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| Walnut Creek Medical Center | WALNUT CREEK, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| Vallejo Medical Center | VALLEJO, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| Roseville Medical Center | ROSEVILLE, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| Antioch Medical Center | ANTIOCH, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| Fremont Medical Center | FREMONT, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| Fresno Medical Center | FRESNO, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| San Jose Medical Center | SAN JOSE, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| San Francisco Medical Center | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $4,995.20 | $476.00 – $476.00 |
| St. Luke's Health - The Vintage Hospital | Houston, TX | $5,010.95 | $279.00 – $14,317.00 |
| Baylor St Luke's Medical Center | Houston, TX | $5,010.95 | $279.00 – $14,317.00 |
| St. Luke's Health - Springwoods Village Hospital | Spring, TX | $5,010.95 | $279.00 – $14,317.00 |
| St. Luke's Health - Sugar Land Hospital | Sugar Land, TX | $5,010.95 | $279.00 – $14,317.00 |
| St. Luke's Health - Lakeside Hospital | The Woodlands, TX | $5,010.95 | $279.00 – $14,317.00 |
| Adventhealth Port Charlotte | Port Charlotte, FL | $5,024.86 | $364.32 – $665.25 |
| Mercy Medical Center Redding | Redding, CA | $5,057.84 | $453.77 – $9,776.48 |
| HSHS St. John's Hospital | IL 62769|301 N. 8th St., IL | $5,068.80 | $352.85 – $7,040.00 |
| UPMC East | Monroeville, PA | $5,074.20 | $341.40 – $6,765.60 |
| Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital | Santa Rosa, CA | $5,156.10 | $485.45 – $3,335.22 |
| Adventhealth Gordon | Calhoun, GA | $5,212.17 | $347.27 – $702.33 |
| Adventhealth Dade City | Dade City, FL | $5,306.71 | $364.32 – $825.81 |
| UPMC Mercy | Pittsburgh, PA | $5,313.60 | $283.82 – $1,505.13 |
| UPMC Magee | Pittsburgh, PA | $5,502.60 | $318.66 – $1,479.38 |
| CHI St. Vincent Hospital Hot Springs | Hot Springs, AR | $5,547.00 | $366.59 – $4,437.60 |
| Adventhealth Palm Coast | Palm Coast, FL | $5,713.77 | $346.11 – $778.15 |
| Adventhealth Palm Coast Parkway | Palm Coast, FL | $5,713.77 | $346.11 – $1,140.93 |
| HCA FLORIDA ENGLEWOOD HOSPITAL | ENGLEWOOD, FL | $5,723.87 | $828.27 – $5,581.20 |
| NewYork-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center | New York, NY | $5,733.00 | $401.46 – $982.14 |
| AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach | New Smyrna Beach, FL | $5,754.20 | $346.11 – $977.98 |
| St. Luke's Health - Brazosport Hospital | Lake Jackson, TX | $5,840.10 | $282.68 – $8,343.00 |
| LAFAYETTE REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER | Lexington, MO | $5,872.30 | $206.69 – $376.78 |
| Adventhealth Hendersonville | Hendersonville, NC | $5,984.00 | $333.46 – $832.65 |
| Willard Hospital | Willard, OH | $6,082.80 | not published |
| Texas Health Huguley Hospital Fort Worth South | Burleson, TX | $6,162.86 | $351.04 – $702.08 |
| Texas Health Hospital Mansfield | Mansfield, TX | $6,162.86 | $350.46 – $700.93 |
| Petaluma Valley Hospital | Petaluma, CA | $6,185.79 | $470.15 – $3,102.10 |
| NORTHCREST MEDICAL CENTER | SPRINGFIELD, TN | $6,500.85 | $616.10 – $756.19 |
| Covenant Medical Center | Lubbock, TX | $6,543.60 | $350.46 – $931.71 |