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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIERRA VISTA HOSPITAL, INC. | San Luis Obispo, CA | $760.23 | $447.92 – $10,981.10 |
| Uniontown Hospital | Uniontown, PA | $765.00 | $63.57 – $702.32 |
| Roane County Medical Center | Harriman, TN | $775.50 | $198.87 – $2,115.00 |
| Fort Loudoun Medical Center | Lenoir City, TN | $775.50 | $198.87 – $2,115.00 |
| Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center | Knoxville, TN | $775.50 | $198.87 – $2,115.00 |
| Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge | Oak Ridge, TN | $775.50 | $198.87 – $2,115.00 |
| Southern Virginia Medical Center | Emporia, VA | $778.50 | not published |
| Southside Regional Medical Center | Petersburg, VA | $778.50 | not published |
| Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus | Lakewood, NJ | $797.72 | $326.00 – $2,072.00 |
| Banner Heart Hospital | Mesa, AZ | $800.32 | $266.89 – $2,266.50 |
| Ascension Sacred Heart Bay (Bay County Health System, Inc.) | Panama City, FL | $804.40 | $358.48 – $824.45 |
| 64-0682111 BMH DeSoto | Southaven, MS | $817.00 | $310.67 – $1,204.00 |
| CHI Saint Joseph Health - Saint Joseph East | Lexington, KY | $837.50 | $509.58 – $1,897.35 |
| CASTLE MEDICAL CENTER | Kailua, HI | $846.08 | $412.14 – $4,627.00 |
| 39-3714515 BMH Oktibbeha County | STARKVILLE, MS | $846.72 | $271.40 – $1,323.00 |
| LODI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION INC | Lodi, CA | $855.75 | $46.88 – $3,760.66 |
| Parkview Whitley Hospital & Parkview Kosciusko Hospital | Columbia City, IN | $873.50 | $369.11 – $799.03 |
| Parkview Huntington Hospital | Huntington, IN | $874.50 | $369.11 – $799.03 |
| Parkview LaGrange Hospital | Lagrange, IN | $879.00 | $757.16 – $864.55 |
| Parkview DeKalb Hospital | Auburn, IN | $887.00 | $369.11 – $799.03 |
| Inova Alexandria Hospital | Alexandria, VA | $887.50 | $357.13 – $2,267.12 |
| Inova Fairfax Hospital | Falls Church, VA | $887.50 | $357.13 – $2,267.12 |
| Inova Fair Oaks Hospital | VA 22033-1709, VA | $887.50 | $357.13 – $2,267.12 |
| Inova Loudoun Hospital | Leesburg, VA | $887.50 | $357.13 – $2,267.12 |
| Inova Mount Vernon Hospital | Alexandria, VA | $887.50 | $357.13 – $2,267.12 |
| Ascension St. Vincent's St. Johns County (St. Vincent's Health System, Inc.) | Saint Johns, FL | $888.93 | $351.31 – $824.45 |
| Parkview Noble Hospital | Kendallville, IN | $890.00 | $369.11 – $799.03 |
| Parkview Wabash Hospital | Wabash, IN | $900.00 | $757.16 – $864.55 |
| 62-0123940 BMH Collierville | Collierville, TN | $901.32 | $310.67 – $654.04 |
| Parkview Regional Medical Center & Parkview Hospital Randallia | Fort Wayne, IN | $917.50 | $369.11 – $799.03 |
| Parkview Ortho Hospital | Fort Wayne, IN | $917.50 | $369.11 – $799.03 |
| MUSC Health Black River Medical Center | Cades, SC | $935.00 | $324.48 – $557.14 |
| SONORA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL | Sonora, CA | $944.35 | $12.99 – $1,872.31 |
| 62-1138045 BMH Union City | Union City, TN | $948.00 | $283.71 – $652.20 |
| Ascension Saint Thomas River Park | McMinnville, TN | $965.33 | $215.74 – $865.43 |
| Ascension Seton Edgar B. Davis (Ascension Seton) | Luling, TX | $984.60 | $241.65 – $2,715.03 |
| Ascension Providence | Waco, TX | $985.14 | $282.68 – $2,107.81 |
| CHI Saint Joseph Health - Saint Joseph Berea | Berea, KY | $998.82 | $571.67 – $1,885.52 |
| Banner Wyoming Medical Center | Casper, WY | $1,000.86 | $357.13 – $2,287.68 |
| MUSC Health Main Campus - Charleston | Charleston, SC | $1,004.50 | $324.48 – $443.33 |
| MUSC Health Orangeburg Medical Center | Orangeburg, SC | $1,004.50 | $324.48 – $356.93 |
| Ascension Saint Thomas Highlands | Sparta, TN | $1,013.60 | $215.74 – $865.43 |
| Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb | Smithville, TN | $1,013.60 | $215.74 – $865.43 |
| Banner Payson Medical Center | Payson, AZ | $1,015.31 | $266.89 – $1,842.30 |
| 62-1166050 BMH Carroll County | Huntingdon, TN | $1,020.74 | $283.71 – $652.20 |
| CHI Saint Joseph Health - Saint Joseph Hospital | Lexington, KY | $1,031.21 | $417.19 – $1,616.16 |
| Arizona General Hospital Laveen | Phoenix, AZ | $1,044.47 | $292.17 – $3,726.34 |
| St. Joseph Health Grimes Hospital | Navasota, TX | $1,051.40 | $461.69 – $6,668.88 |
| St. Joseph Health Burleson Hospital | Caldwell, TX | $1,051.40 | $461.69 – $5,407.20 |
| St. Joseph Health Madison Hospital | Madisonville, TX | $1,051.40 | $461.69 – $5,407.20 |