Lower Back (Lumbar Spine) MRI (without contrast) cost at US hospitals
MRI lumbar spine without contrast · CPT 72148
$233.59
lowest cash price
$2,080.00
national median
$19,472.20
highest cash price
935
hospitals with a published cash price
Middle half of hospitals (25th–75th percentile) against the full range. The same procedure varies $233.59–$19,472.20 — the variation is the story.
Median cash price over time
Sep 1, 2025 ($1,293.45) → Sep 1, 2026 ($6,892.74)
By state
| State | Hospitals | Lowest cash | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 4 | $360.00 | $3,650.40 | $4,582.50 |
| Arizona | 22 | $280.37 | $420.56 | $3,462.92 |
| Arkansas | 7 | $561.60 | $1,043.67 | $3,879.00 |
| California | 90 | $607.50 | $2,496.00 | $9,041.79 |
| Colorado | 17 | $305.16 | $5,983.94 | $19,472.20 |
| Florida | 81 | $1,009.60 | $6,544.52 | $18,414.99 |
| Georgia | 25 | $1,422.88 | $1,775.67 | $11,676.27 |
| Hawaii | 2 | $775.36 | $775.36 | $1,747.50 |
| Illinois | 51 | $1,125.00 | $2,997.60 | $4,771.20 |
| Indiana | 26 | $582.60 | $824.50 | $3,235.67 |
| Iowa | 30 | $1,033.50 | $2,598.70 | $5,237.00 |
| Kansas | 11 | $1,431.60 | $4,032.52 | $13,016.93 |
| Kentucky | 26 | $870.84 | $3,066.60 | $16,922.09 |
| Louisiana | 1 | $643.24 | $643.24 | $643.24 |
| Maine | 7 | $1,293.45 | $1,442.30 | $2,554.55 |
| Maryland | 2 | $247.20 | $247.20 | $247.20 |
| Michigan | 27 | $233.59 | $1,902.00 | $4,504.80 |
| Minnesota | 19 | $547.30 | $2,757.60 | $3,237.60 |
| Mississippi | 11 | $263.12 | $992.68 | $1,214.10 |
| Missouri | 20 | $983.40 | $1,613.15 | $12,686.18 |
| Montana | 2 | $1,331.20 | $1,331.20 | $1,956.80 |
| Nebraska | 12 | $1,144.02 | $1,424.64 | $3,965.25 |
| Nevada | 3 | $1,950.95 | $1,960.42 | $2,170.81 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $4,362.00 | $4,362.00 | $4,362.00 |
| New Jersey | 21 | $264.17 | $467.77 | $678.39 |
| New Mexico | 2 | $2,567.04 | $2,567.04 | $2,567.04 |
| New York | 23 | $286.04 | $286.04 | $6,747.00 |
| North Carolina | 15 | $1,518.00 | $2,013.08 | $4,104.00 |
| North Dakota | 4 | $2,202.40 | $2,202.40 | $3,445.60 |
| Ohio | 54 | $965.20 | $1,497.50 | $4,258.80 |
| Oklahoma | 16 | $924.82 | $1,756.95 | $4,003.00 |
| Oregon | 13 | $262.44 | $1,283.25 | $2,275.50 |
| Pennsylvania | 32 | $454.00 | $1,656.00 | $6,214.20 |
| South Carolina | 11 | $830.50 | $1,342.80 | $7,358.00 |
| South Dakota | 7 | $2,980.80 | $3,198.40 | $3,555.20 |
| Tennessee | 38 | $593.63 | $775.50 | $11,471.75 |
| Texas | 112 | $784.44 | $2,394.15 | $19,070.09 |
| Virginia | 43 | $593.63 | $2,000.00 | $10,641.00 |
| Washington | 32 | $1,057.44 | $1,703.20 | $3,532.20 |
| West Virginia | 17 | $868.50 | $1,417.00 | $3,295.20 |
| Wisconsin | 33 | $1,341.96 | $2,110.00 | $5,058.83 |
| Wyoming | 4 | $800.52 | $1,157.91 | $1,227.35 |
All hospitals
| Hospital | Location | Cash price | Negotiated range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atrium Health Behavioral Health Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | $2,013.08 | $61.82 – $3,543.01 |
| Atrium Health Cleveland | Shelby, NC | $2,013.08 | $61.21 – $3,824.84 |
| Atrium Health Cabarrus | Concord, NC | $2,013.08 | $61.21 – $3,824.84 |
| Atrium Health Union | Monroe, NC | $2,013.08 | $61.21 – $3,824.84 |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | $2,013.08 | $61.82 – $3,704.06 |
| Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center | Charlotte, NC | $2,013.08 | $61.21 – $3,623.54 |
| Mercy Hospital of Folsom | Folsom, CA | $2,025.14 | $139.09 – $5,397.00 |
| CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN | $2,033.37 | $186.96 – $2,884.20 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Williamsport (St. Vincent Williamsport Hospital, Inc.) | Williamsport, IN | $2,047.20 | $35.16 – $700.00 |
| Urbana Hospital | Urbana, OH | $2,053.20 | not published |
| SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Midwest | Midwest City, OK | $2,060.27 | $182.50 – $604.30 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - BUDA | Suite 110, TX | $2,065.69 | $197.14 – $2,582.11 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - PFLUGERVILLE | Suite 100, TX | $2,065.69 | $197.14 – $3,098.53 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - TAYLOR | Taylor, TX | $2,065.69 | $314.76 – $2,754.25 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE EMERGENCY MEDICAL CENTER - CEDAR PARK | Cedar Park, TX | $2,065.69 | $197.14 – $3,098.53 |
| Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Milwaukee Campus (Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Milwaukee, Inc.) | Milwaukee, WI | $2,067.00 | $116.26 – $517.79 |
| Defiance Hospital | Defiance, OH | $2,069.40 | not published |
| Central Medical Center | Seattle, WA | $2,080.00 | $242.00 – $242.00 |
| St. Anthony Hospital | Gig Harbor, WA | $2,080.20 | $518.84 – $5,129.56 |
| St. Anne Hospital | Burien, WA | $2,088.46 | $518.84 – $6,155.47 |
| Morrow County Hospital | Mount Gilead, OH | $2,096.84 | $313.93 – $517.98 |
| Aurora Sinai Medical Center of Aurora Health Care Metro | Milwaukee, WI | $2,110.00 | not published |
| Aurora Baycare Medical Center | Green Bay, WI | $2,110.00 | not published |
| Aurora Medical Center Bay Area | Marinette, WI | $2,110.00 | not published |
| Aurora Medical Center Burlington | Burlington, WI | $2,110.00 | not published |
| Aurora Medical Center Grafton | Grafton, WI | $2,110.00 | not published |
| Aurora Medical Center Fond du Lac | Fond Du Lac, WI | $2,110.00 | not published |
| Aurora Medical Center Manitowoc | Two Rivers, WI | $2,110.00 | not published |
| Aurora Medical Center Kenosha | Kenosha, WI | $2,110.00 | not published |
| Aurora Medical Center Summit | Summit, WI | $2,110.00 | not published |
| Aurora Medical Center Sheboygan County | Sheboygan, WI | $2,110.00 | not published |
| Aurora Medical Center Washington County | Hartford, WI | $2,110.00 | not published |
| Aurora West Allis Medical Center | West Allis, WI | $2,110.00 | not published |
| UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital | Madison, WI | $2,118.84 | $65.34 – $1,529.00 |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center | Chicago, IL | $2,125.00 | $365.36 – $2,160.00 |
| Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital | South Boston, VA | $2,130.00 | $239.34 – $246.38 |
| SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City, OK | $2,131.80 | $182.50 – $604.30 |
| St. Francis Hospital | Federal Way, WA | $2,146.37 | $518.84 – $5,129.56 |
| Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City, OK | $2,147.60 | $105.76 – $1,003.42 |
| Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Ozaukee Campus (Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Milwaukee, Inc.) | Mequon, WI | $2,158.16 | $116.26 – $517.79 |
| St. Bernardine Medical Center | San Bernardino, CA | $2,166.17 | $266.80 – $5,334.10 |
| Siena Hospital | Henderson, NV | $2,170.81 | $118.62 – $6,598.47 |
| Providence Little Co of Mary Med Center San Pedro | San Pedro, CA | $2,178.75 | $306.88 – $1,098.16 |
| Providence Little Company of Mary Med Center Torrance | Torrance, CA | $2,178.75 | $306.88 – $1,792.05 |
| Lincoln Health | Damariscotta, ME | $2,181.10 | $69.85 – $141.65 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - CENTENNIAL | Frisco, TX | $2,190.02 | $197.14 – $2,737.52 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - IRVING | Irving, TX | $2,190.02 | $197.14 – $2,737.52 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE THE HEART HOSPITAL - DENTON | Denton, TX | $2,190.02 | $197.14 – $2,737.52 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE THE HEART HOSPITAL - MCKINNEY | McKinney, TX | $2,190.02 | $197.14 – $2,737.52 |
| BAYLOR UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | Dallas, TX | $2,190.02 | $197.14 – $2,737.52 |