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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE ALL SAINTS MEDICAL CENTER - FORT WORTH | Fort Worth, TX | $2,190.02 | $197.14 – $2,737.52 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - GRAPEVINE | Grapevine, TX | $2,190.02 | $197.14 – $2,737.52 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - LAKE POINTE | Rowlett, TX | $2,190.02 | $197.14 – $2,737.52 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - MCKINNEY | McKinney, TX | $2,190.02 | $197.14 – $2,737.52 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - FRISCO AT PGA PARKWAY | Frisco, TX | $2,190.02 | $197.14 – $2,737.52 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - PLANO | Plano, TX | $2,190.02 | $197.14 – $2,737.52 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - WAXAHACHIE | Waxahachie, TX | $2,190.02 | $197.14 – $2,737.52 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE HEART AND VASCULAR HOSPITAL - WAXAHACHIE | Waxahachie, TX | $2,190.02 | $197.14 – $2,737.52 |
| Redwood Memorial Hospital | Fortuna, CA | $2,191.98 | $4,117.27 – $4,117.27 |
| Ascension Seton Cedar Park Hospital | Cedar Park, TX | $2,198.29 | $156.11 – $1,750.00 |
| Sanford Medical Center Hillsboro | Hillsboro, ND | $2,202.40 | $578.05 – $2,477.70 |
| Sanford Medical Center Mayville | Mayville, ND | $2,202.40 | $578.05 – $2,477.70 |
| UPMC Northwest | Seneca, PA | $2,205.00 | $209.00 – $1,246.82 |
| Providence Saint John's Health Center | Santa Monica, CA | $2,227.75 | $306.88 – $834.41 |
| UnityPoint Health - Jones Regional Medical Center | Anamosa, IA | $2,232.83 | $64.86 – $2,475.64 |
| Canton-Potsdam Hospital | Potsdam, NY | $2,233.24 | $105.23 – $122.77 |
| Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center | Tarzana, CA | $2,238.25 | $306.88 – $1,098.16 |
| CHI Health Mercy Corning | Corning, IA | $2,239.20 | $2,005.95 – $4,571.70 |
| University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center | Cleveland OH 44106|3999 Richmond Road, OH | $2,244.00 | $225.74 – $406.32 |
| SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital - Fond du Lac | Fond Du Lac, WI | $2,257.20 | $177.00 – $455.49 |
| SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital | Waupun, WI | $2,257.20 | $490.24 – $490.24 |
| SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital | Ripon, WI | $2,257.20 | $490.24 – $490.24 |
| Mercy Hospital Kingfisher | Kingfisher, OK | $2,262.00 | $105.76 – $670.37 |
| St. Joseph Medical Center | Tacoma, WA | $2,265.20 | $518.84 – $5,129.56 |
| University Hospitals Beachwood Medical Center | Beachwood, OH | $2,265.75 | $225.74 – $2,718.90 |
| University Hospitals St. John Medical Center | Westlake OH, OH | $2,265.75 | $243.77 – $438.79 |
| University Hospitals Lake West Medical Center | Willoughby OH 44094|7590 Auburn Road, OH | $2,265.75 | $225.74 – $406.32 |
| University Hospitals Parma Medical Center | Parma OH 44129|7007 Powers Boulevard, OH | $2,265.75 | $225.74 – $406.32 |
| University Hospitals Regional Hospitals - Geauga Medical Center | Chardon, OH | $2,265.75 | $225.74 – $406.32 |
| University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center | Elyria, OH | $2,265.75 | $225.74 – $406.32 |
| University Hospitals Portage Medical Center | Ravenna OH 44266, OH | $2,265.75 | $243.77 – $438.79 |
| University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center | Beachwood, OH | $2,265.75 | $225.74 – $2,718.90 |
| Lourdes Hospital | Paducah, KY | $2,273.40 | not published |
| Providence Medford Medical Center | Medford, OR | $2,275.50 | $241.81 – $604.52 |
| CHI Health Missouri Valley | Missouri Valley, IA | $2,285.85 | $1,632.75 – $4,571.70 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE CONTINUING CARE HOSPITAL | Temple, TX | $2,288.05 | $197.14 – $3,432.08 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER HILLCREST | Waco, TX | $2,288.05 | $197.14 – $2,860.07 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - BRENHAM | Brenham, TX | $2,288.05 | $314.76 – $3,432.08 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - COLLEGE STATION | College Station, TX | $2,288.05 | $210.94 – $3,432.08 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MCLANE CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER | Temple, TX | $2,288.05 | $197.14 – $3,432.08 |
| Emory Decatur Hospital | Decatur, GA | $2,296.00 | $237.69 – $828.00 |
| Emory Long-Term Acute Care Hospital | Decatur, GA | $2,296.00 | $237.69 – $237.69 |
| Emory Johns Creek Hospital | Johns Creek, GA | $2,296.00 | $237.69 – $828.00 |
| Emory Hillandale Hospital | Lithonia, GA | $2,296.00 | $237.69 – $828.00 |
| Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital | Atlanta, GA | $2,296.00 | $237.69 – $828.00 |
| Emory University Hospital Midtown | Atlanta, GA | $2,296.00 | $237.69 – $828.00 |
| Emory Rehabilitation Hospital | Atlanta, GA | $2,296.00 | $231.10 – $828.00 |
| Emory University Hospital | Ne, GA | $2,296.00 | $237.69 – $828.00 |
| SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo | Baraboo, WI | $2,318.25 | $173.82 – $1,591.98 |
| Mercy Hospital Southeast | Cape Girardeau, MO | $2,332.20 | $157.73 – $1,533.30 |