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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora West Allis Medical Center | West Allis, WI | $2,210.00 | not published |
| Ascension Calumet Hospital, Inc. | Chilton, WI | $2,221.86 | $90.07 – $217.97 |
| Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital | Charlottesville, VA | $2,233.50 | $347.20 – $357.41 |
| Sentara RMH Medical Center | Harrisonburg, VA | $2,233.50 | $347.20 – $357.41 |
| CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN | $2,236.83 | $278.75 – $3,701.60 |
| CHI Health Mercy Corning | Corning, IA | $2,239.20 | $2,005.95 – $4,571.70 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Mercy (St. Vincent Madison County Health System, Inc.) | Elwood, IN | $2,239.80 | $64.01 – $485.37 |
| Central Medical Center | Seattle, WA | $2,240.00 | $358.00 – $358.00 |
| WHITE MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER | MONTEBELLO, CA | $2,271.24 | $85.22 – $14,479.92 |
| CHI Health Missouri Valley | Missouri Valley, IA | $2,285.85 | $1,632.75 – $4,571.70 |
| Morrow County Hospital | Mount Gilead, OH | $2,291.84 | $474.40 – $782.76 |
| Providence Medford Medical Center | Medford, OR | $2,293.50 | $353.56 – $883.90 |
| Methodist Hospital of Sacramento | Sacramento, CA | $2,293.92 | $212.56 – $6,610.95 |
| St. Joseph Medical Center | Tacoma, WA | $2,302.95 | $1,002.46 – $5,215.05 |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center | Des Moines, IA | $2,331.55 | $329.29 – $3,587.00 |
| Mercy Hospital Southeast | Cape Girardeau, MO | $2,332.20 | $158.56 – $2,241.93 |
| Grant Memorial Hospital | Petersburg, WV | $2,348.80 | not published |
| Providence Little Co of Mary Med Center San Pedro | San Pedro, CA | $2,350.95 | $448.71 – $1,187.61 |
| Providence Little Company of Mary Med Center Torrance | Torrance, CA | $2,350.95 | $448.71 – $1,938.02 |
| Mercy Orthopedic Hospital Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | $2,356.25 | $162.10 – $1,470.99 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Jennings (St. Vincent Jennings Hospital, Inc.) | Vernon, IN | $2,364.00 | $64.01 – $485.37 |
| Parkview Bryan Hospital | Bryan, OH | $2,369.00 | $347.08 – $1,041.25 |
| Parkview Montpelier Hospital | Montpelier, OH | $2,369.00 | not published |
| SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital - Fond du Lac | Fond Du Lac, WI | $2,369.95 | $258.81 – $665.99 |
| SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital | Waupun, WI | $2,369.95 | $765.40 – $765.40 |
| SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital | Ripon, WI | $2,369.95 | $765.40 – $765.40 |
| SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo | Baraboo, WI | $2,384.25 | $254.15 – $2,485.58 |
| Canton-Potsdam Hospital | Potsdam, NY | $2,387.53 | $159.98 – $186.65 |
| St. Mary Medical Center | Long Beach, CA | $2,397.68 | $342.79 – $5,576.00 |
| Atrium Health Anson | Wadesboro, NC | $2,415.68 | $73.83 – $4,589.78 |
| Atrium Health Lincoln | Lincolnton, NC | $2,415.68 | $73.83 – $4,589.78 |
| Atrium Health University City | Charlotte, NC | $2,415.68 | $73.83 – $4,444.84 |
| Atrium Health Mercy | Charlotte, NC | $2,415.68 | $73.83 – $4,444.84 |
| Atrium Health Pineville | Charlotte, NC | $2,415.68 | $73.83 – $4,444.84 |
| Atrium Health Stanly | Albermarle, NC | $2,415.68 | $73.83 – $4,638.10 |
| Atrium Health Behavioral Health Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | $2,415.68 | $74.57 – $4,251.59 |
| Atrium Health Cleveland | Shelby, NC | $2,415.68 | $73.83 – $4,589.78 |
| Atrium Health Cabarrus | Concord, NC | $2,415.68 | $73.83 – $4,589.78 |
| Atrium Health Union | Monroe, NC | $2,415.68 | $73.83 – $4,589.78 |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | $2,415.68 | $74.57 – $4,444.84 |
| Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center | Charlotte, NC | $2,415.68 | $73.83 – $4,348.22 |
| MultiCare Valley Hospital | Spokane Valley, WA | $2,425.20 | $302.68 – $1,639.51 |
| MultiCare Deaconess Hospital | Spokane, WA | $2,425.20 | $304.84 – $1,643.20 |
| Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center | Tarzana, CA | $2,429.00 | $448.71 – $1,187.61 |
| Banner Churchill Community Hospital | Fallon, NV | $2,438.69 | $1,198.60 – $4,425.60 |
| University Hospitals Beachwood Medical Center | Beachwood, OH | $2,441.25 | $330.06 – $2,929.50 |
| University Hospitals St. John Medical Center | Westlake OH, OH | $2,441.25 | $356.43 – $641.57 |
| University Hospitals Lake West Medical Center | Willoughby OH 44094|7590 Auburn Road, OH | $2,441.25 | $330.06 – $594.11 |
| University Hospitals Parma Medical Center | Parma OH 44129|7007 Powers Boulevard, OH | $2,441.25 | $330.06 – $594.11 |
| University Hospitals Regional Hospitals - Geauga Medical Center | Chardon, OH | $2,441.25 | $330.06 – $594.11 |