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 Carmel Ambulatory Surgery Center | Carmel, IN | $582.60 | $50.49 – $485.37 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Fishers (St. Vincent Fishers Hospital, Inc.) | Fishers, IN | $582.60 | $64.01 – $485.37 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo (St. Joseph Hospital & Health Center, Inc.) | Kokomo, IN | $582.60 | $50.49 – $485.37 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Heart Center (St. Vincent Heart Center of Indiana, LLC) | Carmel, IN | $582.60 | $64.01 – $485.37 |
| Ascension St. Vincent's Southside (St. Luke's-St. Vincent's HealthCare, Inc.) | Jacksonville, FL | $622.25 | $344.14 – $1,111.00 |
| Ascension St. Vincent's Clay County (St. Vincent's Medical Center, Inc.) | Middleburg, FL | $622.25 | $347.73 – $824.45 |
| Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside (St. Vincent's Medical Center, Inc.) | Jacksonville, FL | $622.25 | $347.73 – $824.45 |
| Dickenson Community Hospital | CLINTWOOD, VA | $624.68 | $392.26 – $786.00 |
| Hancock County Hospital | SNEEDVILLE, TN | $624.68 | $217.92 – $786.00 |
| Johnson County Community Hospital | MOUNTAIN CITY, TN | $624.68 | $392.26 – $786.00 |
| Lee County Community Hospital | PENNINGTON GAP, VA | $624.68 | $392.26 – $786.00 |
| Trinitas Regional Medical Center | Elizabeth, NJ | $629.92 | $144.63 – $1,037.77 |
| WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital | Ephrata, PA | $635.50 | $336.25 – $2,106.92 |
| WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital | Gettysburg, PA | $635.50 | $336.25 – $2,106.92 |
| WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital | Lebanon, PA | $635.50 | $352.78 – $2,106.92 |
| WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital | Chambersburg, PA | $635.50 | $336.25 – $2,106.92 |
| WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital | Waynesboro, PA | $635.50 | $109.49 – $2,483.69 |
| WellSpan Evangelical Community Hospital | Lewisburg, PA | $635.50 | $343.57 – $2,225.60 |
| Greeneville Community Hospital | GREENEVILLE, TN | $636.75 | $156.90 – $709.70 |
| Smyth County Community Hospital | MARION, VA | $636.75 | $340.39 – $742.05 |
| Franklin Woods Community Hospital | JOHNSON CITY, TN | $636.75 | $316.76 – $690.54 |
| Bristol Regional Medical Center | BRISTOL, TN | $636.75 | $261.50 – $794.30 |
| Hawkins County Memorial Hospital | ROGERSVILLE, TN | $636.75 | $217.92 – $690.02 |
| Sycamore Shoals Hospital | ELIZABETHTON, TN | $636.75 | $316.52 – $690.02 |
| Holston Valley Medical Center | KINGSPORT, TN | $636.75 | $261.50 – $794.30 |
| Indian Path Community Hospital | KINGSPORT, TN | $636.75 | $316.52 – $759.66 |
| Johnston Memorial Hospital | ABINGDON, VA | $636.75 | $340.39 – $742.05 |
| Johnson City Medical Center | JOHNSON CITY, TN | $636.75 | $325.55 – $709.70 |
| Lonesome Pine Hospital | BIG STONE GAP, VA | $636.75 | $217.92 – $816.94 |
| Russell County Hospital | LEBANON, VA | $636.75 | $340.39 – $742.05 |
| 82-3844150 BMH Crittenden | West Memphis, AR | $643.80 | $310.67 – $654.04 |
| Claiborne Medical Center | Tazewell, TN | $658.00 | $198.87 – $2,115.00 |
| Banner University Medical Center Tucson | Tucson, AZ | $661.40 | $266.89 – $2,956.00 |
| Clara Maass Medical Center | Belleville, NJ | $667.50 | $326.00 – $2,072.00 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER TEHACHAPI | Tehachapi, CA | $675.00 | $12.99 – $626.27 |
| LeConte Medical Center | Sevierville, TN | $681.50 | $198.87 – $2,115.00 |
| Community Medical Center | Toms River, NJ | $696.03 | $326.00 – $2,072.00 |
| Jersey City Medical Center | Jersey City, NJ | $697.37 | $187.16 – $2,010.00 |
| Newark Beth Israel Medical Center | Newark, NJ | $699.05 | $148.88 – $2,072.00 |
| Parkwest Medical Center | Knoxville, TN | $705.00 | $198.87 – $2,115.00 |
| Morristown-Hamblen Hospital Association | Morristown, TN | $705.00 | $198.87 – $2,115.00 |
| Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center | Livingston, NJ | $711.13 | $400.67 – $2,072.00 |
| Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital | New Brunswick, NJ | $715.83 | $233.55 – $870.22 |
| United Hospital | MN | 1175 Nininger Road. Hastings, MN | $729.74 | $316.15 – $1,474.00 |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital | MN 55407, MN | $729.74 | $316.15 – $1,474.00 |
| Mercy Hospital | MN 55443 | 550 Osborne Road NE. Fridley, MN | $729.74 | $316.15 – $1,474.00 |
| Monmouth Medical Center | Long Branch, NJ | $734.29 | $326.00 – $2,072.00 |
| UPMC Chautauqua | Jamestown, NY | $736.20 | $297.75 – $1,104.30 |
| Cumberland Medical Center, Inc. | Crossville, TN | $752.00 | $238.64 – $2,115.00 |
| CHRISTUS St. Francis Cabrini Hospital | Alexandria, LA | $757.90 | $332.92 – $2,251.00 |