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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advocate South Suburban Hospital | Hazel Crest, IL | $1,750.00 | $539.81 – $3,409.00 |
| UPMC Horizon-Greenville | Greenville, PA | $1,771.80 | $304.83 – $1,371.07 |
| SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital | Saint Louis, MO | $1,791.90 | $263.79 – $1,058.89 |
| Berger Hospital | Circleville, OH | $1,793.35 | $336.39 – $336.39 |
| Sentara Albemarle Regional Medical Center | Elizabeth City, NC | $1,798.50 | $333.46 – $340.13 |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital - Park Ridge | Park Ridge, IL | $1,800.00 | $539.81 – $2,880.00 |
| St. Joseph's Hospital | Buckhannon, WV | $1,800.00 | not published |
| UPMC Altoona | Altoona, PA | $1,810.80 | $269.00 – $2,414.40 |
| Ascension Seton Smithville (Ascension Seton) | Smithville, TX | $1,821.96 | $241.65 – $2,715.03 |
| SAN JOAQUIN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL | Bakersfield, CA | $1,833.75 | $12.99 – $1,698.00 |
| Allina Health Faribault Medical Center | Faribualt, MN | $1,848.11 | $332.39 – $1,053.99 |
| Buffalo Hospital | Buffalo, MN | $1,848.11 | $332.39 – $1,053.99 |
| Cambridge Medical Center | Cambridge, MN | $1,848.11 | $332.39 – $1,053.99 |
| Owatonna Hospital | Owatonna, MN | $1,848.11 | $332.39 – $1,053.99 |
| River Falls Area Hospital | River Falls, MN | $1,848.11 | $332.39 – $1,864.83 |
| Pen Bay Medical Center | Rockport, ME | $1,854.70 | $81.79 – $1,437.64 |
| Mid Coast Hospital | Brunswick, ME | $1,854.70 | $80.98 – $943.20 |
| WILLITS HOSPITAL INC | Willits, CA | $1,860.00 | $12.99 – $398.14 |
| Advocate Condell Medical Center | Libertyville, IL | $1,865.00 | $539.81 – $2,984.00 |
| Hardin Memorial Hospital | Kenton, OH | $1,877.85 | not published |
| CHI Health St. Elizabeth | Lincoln, NE | $1,884.00 | $366.98 – $3,014.40 |
| UPMC Jameson | New Castle, PA | $1,884.60 | $280.42 – $1,371.07 |
| United Hospital Center | Bridgeport, WV | $1,886.00 | $63.57 – $629.39 |
| Advocate Sherman Hospital | Elgin, IL | $1,890.00 | $539.81 – $3,402.00 |
| Mercy Orthopedic Hospital Springfield | Ozark, MO | $1,893.45 | $159.35 – $1,722.45 |
| MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital | Puyallup, WA | $1,895.60 | $316.75 – $1,705.83 |
| MultiCare Auburn Medical Center | Auburn, WA | $1,895.60 | $309.60 – $1,705.83 |
| MultiCare Covington Medical Center | Covington, WA | $1,895.60 | $309.60 – $1,705.83 |
| MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital | Tacoma, WA | $1,895.60 | $315.30 – $2,897.70 |
| MultiCare Allenmore Hospital | Tacoma, WA | $1,895.60 | $316.88 – $1,705.83 |
| St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center | Phoenix, AZ | $1,917.26 | $292.17 – $3,965.01 |
| SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Shawnee | Shawnee, OK | $1,934.35 | $279.73 – $982.11 |
| Reynolds Memorial Hospital | Glen Dale, WV | $1,943.00 | $63.57 – $582.78 |
| Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City, OK | $1,950.65 | $162.10 – $1,083.28 |
| Moanalua Medical Center | HONOLULU, HI | $1,965.00 | $367.00 – $367.00 |
| martin north hospital | Stuart, FL | $2,002.00 | $66.73 – $1,540.00 |
| indian river hospital | Vero Beach, FL | $2,002.00 | $79.81 – $2,464.00 |
| St. Clare Hospital | Lakewood, WA | $2,004.26 | $1,002.46 – $5,215.05 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Clay (St. Vincent Clay Hospital, Inc.) | Brazil, IN | $2,008.20 | $50.49 – $485.37 |
| Providence Centralia Hospital | Centralia, WA | $2,016.56 | $403.99 – $2,378.93 |
| Providence St Peter Hospital | Olympia, WA | $2,016.56 | $341.05 – $2,138.36 |
| Covenant Hospital Levelland | Levelland, TX | $2,024.82 | $339.95 – $925.84 |
| Providence Seaside Hospital | Seaside, OR | $2,025.00 | not published |
| Wellstar Cobb Hospital | Austell, GA | $2,045.55 | $354.36 – $655.56 |
| Wellstar Douglas Hospital | Douglasville, GA | $2,045.55 | $351.17 – $649.66 |
| Wellstar Kennestone Hospital | Marietta, GA | $2,045.55 | $354.36 – $655.56 |
| Wellstar MCG Health | Augusta, GA | $2,045.55 | $305.72 – $635.41 |
| Wellstar Paulding Hospital | Hiram, GA | $2,045.55 | $354.36 – $655.56 |
| Wellstar Sylvan Grove Hospital | Jackson, GA | $2,045.55 | $532.72 – $1,085.52 |
| Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital | Marietta, GA | $2,045.55 | $362.70 – $710.90 |