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 Saint Joseph - Chicago (Presence Chicago Hospital Network) | Chicago, IL | $1,299.54 | $215.85 – $2,139.88 |
| Advocate Christ Medical Center | Oak Lawn, IL | $1,310.00 | $539.81 – $2,300.93 |
| East Morgan County Hospital | Brush, CO | $1,321.53 | $77.12 – $177.51 |
| 45-2896080 MBMC Leake | Carthage, MS | $1,332.90 | $312.52 – $318.77 |
| Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Bolingbrook | Bolingbrook, IL | $1,350.00 | $373.86 – $605.65 |
| Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Glenoaks | Glendale Heights, IL | $1,350.00 | $373.86 – $605.65 |
| Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Hinsdale | Hinsdale, IL | $1,350.00 | $366.01 – $605.65 |
| Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth La Grange | La Grange, IL | $1,350.00 | $366.01 – $605.65 |
| Berkeley Medical Center | Martinsburg, WV | $1,353.50 | $63.57 – $587.60 |
| Jackson General Hospital | Ripley, WV | $1,376.00 | not published |
| Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital | Franklin, WI | $1,387.01 | $305.64 – $836.00 |
| Ascension St. Francis Hospital, Inc. | Milwaukee, WI | $1,387.01 | $305.64 – $836.00 |
| Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - St. Joseph Campus | Milwaukee, WI | $1,387.01 | $305.64 – $836.00 |
| Summersville Regional Medical Center | Summersville, WV | $1,398.00 | not published |
| MID-COLUMBIA MEDICAL CENTER | The Dalles, OR | $1,398.24 | $81.19 – $267.00 |
| CHI Saint Joseph Health - Saint Joseph London | London, KY | $1,399.87 | $560.21 – $3,569.93 |
| Ogallala Community Hospital | Ogallala, NE | $1,430.03 | $954.80 – $2,104.90 |
| Washakie Medical Center | Worland, WY | $1,447.39 | $87.84 – $177.51 |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center | Chicago, IL | $1,450.00 | $539.81 – $2,370.82 |
| Wetzel County Hospital | New Martinsville, WV | $1,450.00 | $63.57 – $624.16 |
| Mercy Hospital Stoddard | Dexter, MO | $1,450.15 | $159.35 – $2,241.93 |
| PORTLAND ADVENTIST MEDICAL CENTER | Portland, OR | $1,459.84 | $242.13 – $8,211.60 |
| Providence Regional Medical Center Everett - Colby Campus | Everett, WA | $1,467.44 | $397.30 – $1,603.77 |
| Platte County Hospital | Wheatland, WY | $1,469.09 | $1,041.60 – $2,104.90 |
| Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola (Sacred Heart Health System, Inc.) | Pensacola, FL | $1,492.00 | $358.48 – $824.45 |
| Virginia Mason Medical Center | Seattle, WA | $1,507.56 | $3.94 – $1,583.09 |
| Ascension NE Wisconsin - St. Elizabeth Campus (Ascension NE Wisconsin, Inc.) | Appleton, WI | $1,508.79 | $90.07 – $720.99 |
| Ascension NE Wisconsin - Mercy Campus (Ascension NE Wisconsin, Inc.) | Oshkosh, WI | $1,508.79 | $90.07 – $720.99 |
| Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic | Clifton Springs, NY | $1,510.60 | $152.87 – $270.92 |
| HANFORD COMMUNITY HOSPITAL | Selma, CA | $1,521.71 | $46.88 – $2,068.46 |
| REEDLEY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL | Reedley, CA | $1,521.71 | $2.53 – $1,786.97 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH TULARE | Tulare, CA | $1,521.71 | $46.58 – $1,798.65 |
| Weirton Medical Center | Weirton, WV | $1,522.00 | $63.57 – $1,694.87 |
| 26-1214372 NEA Baptist | Jonesboro, AR | $1,527.60 | $315.92 – $658.16 |
| Community Hospital | Torrington, WY | $1,534.19 | $954.80 – $2,104.90 |
| 64-0881013 MBMC Jackson | Jackson, MS | $1,535.10 | $324.22 – $907.82 |
| Community Hospital San Bernardino | San Bernardino, CA | $1,545.24 | $380.88 – $3,952.00 |
| UPMC Hamot | Erie, PA | $1,546.80 | $220.65 – $1,479.38 |
| St Mary's Hospital | Richmond, VA | $1,557.00 | not published |
| Memorial Regional Hospital | Mechanicsville, VA | $1,557.00 | not published |
| Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin (Ascension Seton) | Austin, TX | $1,558.08 | $241.65 – $2,715.03 |
| Ascension Seton Northwest (Ascension Seton) | Austin, TX | $1,558.08 | $241.65 – $2,715.03 |
| Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas (Ascension Seton) | Austin, TX | $1,558.08 | $241.65 – $2,715.03 |
| CHI Memorial Hospital - Georgia | Ringgold, GA | $1,565.25 | $432.02 – $4,283.28 |
| CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson | Hixson, TN | $1,565.25 | $278.75 – $3,701.60 |
| Providence Newberg Medical Center | Newberg, OR | $1,596.75 | $217.29 – $709.64 |
| Providence Portland Medical Center | Portland, OR | $1,596.75 | $192.66 – $1,515.42 |
| Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center | Oregon City, OR | $1,596.75 | $192.66 – $1,515.42 |
| Providence St Vincent Medical Center | Portland, OR | $1,596.75 | $192.66 – $1,515.42 |
| Providence Milwaukie Hospital | Milwaukie, OR | $1,596.75 | $192.66 – $1,515.42 |