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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph Health College Station Hospital | College Station, TX | $1,051.40 | $279.00 – $5,106.80 |
| CHI Saint Joseph Health - Saint Joseph Mount Sterling | Mt. Sterling, KY | $1,053.27 | $601.53 – $2,615.34 |
| Ascension Seton Highland Lakes (Ascension Seton) | Burnet, TX | $1,053.27 | $241.65 – $2,715.03 |
| Ascension St. John Medical Center (St. John Medical Center, Inc.) | Tulsa, OK | $1,054.87 | $112.11 – $1,358.84 |
| Ascension St. John Owasso (Owasso Medical Facility, Inc.) | Owasso, OK | $1,054.87 | $112.11 – $974.52 |
| Ascension St. John Nowata (Jane Phillips Nowata Hospital, Inc.) | Nowata, OK | $1,054.87 | $112.11 – $963.32 |
| Ascension St. John Sapulpa (St. John Sapulpa, Inc.) | Sapulpa, OK | $1,054.87 | $112.11 – $840.11 |
| Ascension St. John Broken Arrow (St. John Broken Arrow, Inc.) | Jenks, OK | $1,054.87 | $112.11 – $234.26 |
| Ascension St. John Jane Phillips (Jane Phillips Memorial Medical Center, Inc.) | Bartlesville, OK | $1,054.87 | $112.11 – $963.32 |
| Kettering Health Greene Memorial | Xenia, OH | $1,062.00 | $341.91 – $918.57 |
| Kettering Health Miamisburg (Sycamore) | Miamisburg, OH | $1,062.00 | $345.89 – $929.26 |
| Kettering Health Main Campus (Kettering) | Kettering, OH | $1,062.00 | $343.75 – $923.51 |
| Kettering Health Troy | Troy, OH | $1,062.00 | $341.91 – $918.57 |
| Kettering Health Dayton (Grandview) | Dayton, OH | $1,062.00 | $343.75 – $923.51 |
| Kettering Health Hamilton (Fort Hamilton) | Hamilton, OH | $1,062.00 | $345.89 – $929.26 |
| Soin Medical Center | Beaver Creek, OH | $1,062.00 | $343.75 – $923.51 |
| 81-3257997 BMH Calhoun | Calhoun City, MS | $1,070.68 | $357.13 – $364.27 |
| SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson City | Jefferson City, MO | $1,086.80 | $347.51 – $628.99 |
| Arizona General Hospital Mesa | Mesa, AZ | $1,126.57 | $292.17 – $3,726.34 |
| 64-0772726 BMH North Mississippi | Oxford, MS | $1,142.87 | $311.90 – $1,068.00 |
| Henry Ford St John Hospital | Detroit, MI | $1,148.00 | $238.97 – $1,039.30 |
| Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown | Nashville, TN | $1,152.21 | $256.45 – $865.43 |
| UKIAH ADVENTIST HOSPITAL | Ukiah, CA | $1,152.60 | $46.58 – $2,462.91 |
| Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital | Cypress, TX | $1,161.50 | $350.46 – $683.40 |
| Houston Methodist Hospital | Houston, TX | $1,161.50 | $350.46 – $1,401.85 |
| Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital | Sugar Land, TX | $1,161.50 | $350.46 – $683.40 |
| Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital | Houston, TX | $1,161.50 | $350.46 – $683.40 |
| Houston Methodist West Hospital | Houston, TX | $1,161.50 | $350.46 – $1,401.85 |
| Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital | Baytown, TX | $1,161.50 | $350.46 – $683.40 |
| Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital | Nassau Bay, TX | $1,161.50 | $350.46 – $683.40 |
| Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital | The Woodlands, TX | $1,161.50 | $350.46 – $700.93 |
| Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital | Katy, TX | $1,161.50 | $752.40 – $752.40 |
| Mercy Gilbert Medical Center | Gilbert, AZ | $1,162.35 | $292.17 – $3,638.25 |
| CHI St. Vincent North | Sherwood, AR | $1,164.24 | $366.59 – $2,827.78 |
| CHI St. Vincent Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | $1,166.53 | $366.59 – $1,346.52 |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center | Davenport, IA | $1,167.60 | $341.85 – $478.59 |
| 62-1519754 BMH Golden Triangle | Columbus, MS | $1,191.25 | $313.59 – $1,130.00 |
| UnityPoint Health - St. Lukes Downtown | Sioux City, IA | $1,200.46 | $68.64 – $867.33 |
| MUSC Health Chester Medical Center | Chester, SC | $1,202.50 | $337.23 – $370.95 |
| 64-0844470 MBMC Yazoo | Yazoo City, MS | $1,214.42 | $312.52 – $318.77 |
| SIMI VALLEY HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE SERVICES | Simi Valley, CA | $1,222.08 | $448.71 – $2,468.89 |
| Potomac Valley Hospital | Keyser, WV | $1,228.00 | not published |
| 64-0663760 BMH Booneville | Booneville, MS | $1,228.32 | $305.39 – $890.71 |
| UPMC Cole | Coudersport, PA | $1,237.80 | $320.31 – $1,650.40 |
| Chandler Regional Medical Center | Chandler, AZ | $1,266.30 | $260.49 – $3,969.00 |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center | Davenport, IA | $1,275.60 | $341.85 – $478.59 |
| MercyOne Genesis Silvis Medical Center | Silvis, IL | $1,275.60 | $372.28 – $3,022.00 |
| MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center | DeWitt, IA | $1,275.60 | $722.84 – $1,551.98 |
| MercyOne Genesis Aledo Medical Center | Aledo, IL | $1,275.60 | $421.38 – $999.22 |
| Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf (Sacred Heart Health System, Inc.) | Joe, FL | $1,278.00 | $383.93 – $824.45 |