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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia University Hospitals | Morgantown, WV | $1,598.00 | $63.57 – $1,422.66 |
| St Elias Specialty Hospital | Anchorage, AK | $1,600.20 | $339.95 – $683.27 |
| hillcrest hospital | Mayfield Heights, OH | $1,601.60 | $0.87 – $2,217.60 |
| marymount hospital | Garfield Heights, OH | $1,601.60 | $0.87 – $2,217.60 |
| mercy hospital | Canton, OH | $1,601.60 | $1.01 – $2,217.60 |
| akron general | Akron, OH | $1,601.60 | $0.87 – $2,217.60 |
| euclid hospital | Euclid, OH | $1,601.60 | $0.87 – $2,217.60 |
| fairview hospital | Cleveland, OH | $1,601.60 | $0.87 – $2,217.60 |
| lutheran hospital | Cleveland, OH | $1,601.60 | $0.87 – $2,217.60 |
| lodi hospital | Lodi, OH | $1,601.60 | $356.43 – $2,217.60 |
| avon hospital | Avon, OH | $1,601.60 | $0.87 – $2,217.60 |
| medina hospital | Medina, OH | $1,601.60 | $0.87 – $2,217.60 |
| south pointe hospital | Warrensville Heights, OH | $1,601.60 | $0.87 – $2,217.60 |
| Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital | Downers Grove, IL | $1,605.00 | $539.81 – $2,568.00 |
| MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital | Yakima, WA | $1,605.20 | $416.20 – $2,600.00 |
| Ascension Via Christi Hospital Manhattan, Inc | Manhattan, KS | $1,606.00 | $69.69 – $924.78 |
| CENTENNIAL MEDICAL CENTER AT ASHLAND CITY | Ashland City, TN | $1,607.09 | $350.20 – $756.19 |
| New Ulm Medical Center | MN 56073, MN | $1,614.76 | $341.56 – $2,358.10 |
| Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital | Novi, MI | $1,624.56 | $202.95 – $782.35 |
| ST HELENA HOSPITAL | Vallejo, CA | $1,627.65 | $12.99 – $1,882.70 |
| Riverside Methodist Hospital | Columbus, OH | $1,631.50 | $336.39 – $336.39 |
| Grant Medical Center | Columbus, OH | $1,631.50 | $336.39 – $336.39 |
| Dublin Methodist Hospital | Dublin, OH | $1,631.50 | $336.39 – $336.39 |
| Doctors Hospital | Columbus, OH | $1,631.50 | $343.75 – $343.75 |
| Grady Memorial Hospital | Delaware, OH | $1,634.75 | $336.39 – $349.85 |
| Rochester General Hospital | Rochester, NY | $1,648.98 | $277.31 – $277.31 |
| Newark Wayne Community Hospital | Newark, NY | $1,648.98 | $177.76 – $370.40 |
| The Unity Hospital of Rochester | Rochester, NY | $1,652.32 | $346.63 – $346.63 |
| SSM Health DePaul Hospital - St. Louis | Bridgeton, MO | $1,670.35 | $229.74 – $1,097.52 |
| SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital- Wentzville | Wentzville, MO | $1,670.35 | $229.74 – $1,097.52 |
| SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - St. Charles | Saint Charles, MO | $1,670.35 | $229.74 – $1,097.52 |
| SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton | Fenton, MO | $1,670.35 | $229.74 – $1,097.52 |
| SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - St. Louis | Richmond Heights, MO | $1,670.35 | $229.74 – $1,097.52 |
| SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - Lake Saint Louis | Lake Saint Louis, MO | $1,670.35 | $229.74 – $1,097.52 |
| St. Luke's Health Memorial Lufkin | Lufkin, TX | $1,671.60 | $439.13 – $10,029.60 |
| St. Luke's Health Memorial San Augustine | San Augustine, TX | $1,671.60 | $439.13 – $11,589.76 |
| St. Luke's Health Memorial Livingston | Livingston, TX | $1,671.60 | $439.13 – $10,029.60 |
| UnityPoint Health - Allen Hospital | Waterloo, IA | $1,693.12 | $78.25 – $1,115.34 |
| UnityPoint Health - Marshalltown | Marshalltown, IA | $1,693.12 | $78.25 – $1,015.87 |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs | Council Bluffs, IA | $1,695.54 | $366.98 – $3,431.45 |
| CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center - Bergan Mercy | Omaha, NE | $1,695.54 | $366.98 – $3,431.45 |
| Lasting Hope Recovery Center | Omaha, NE | $1,695.54 | $686.29 – $3,431.45 |
| CHI Health Immanuel | Omaha, NE | $1,695.54 | $366.98 – $3,431.45 |
| CHI Health Lakeside | Omaha, NE | $1,695.54 | $366.98 – $3,431.45 |
| CHI Health Midlands | Papillion, NE | $1,695.54 | $366.98 – $3,431.45 |
| Southampton Medical Center | Franklin, VA | $1,699.80 | not published |
| Henry Ford Warren Hospital | Warren, MI | $1,726.48 | $238.97 – $1,039.30 |
| CHI Saint Joseph Health - Flaget Memorial Hospital | Bardstown, KY | $1,728.10 | $664.53 – $3,706.43 |
| Mercy General Hospital | Sacramento, CA | $1,736.37 | $212.56 – $6,372.00 |
| Advocate Trinity Hospital | Chicago, IL | $1,750.00 | $539.81 – $2,800.00 |