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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside Medical Center | RIVERSIDE, CA | $2,496.00 | $220.00 – $220.00 |
| South Bay Medical Center | HARBOR CITY, CA | $2,496.00 | $220.00 – $220.00 |
| West Los Angeles Medical Center | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,496.00 | $220.00 – $220.00 |
| San Marcos Medical Center | SAN MARCOS, CA | $2,496.00 | $220.00 – $220.00 |
| Woodland Hills Medical Center | WOODLAND HILLS, CA | $2,496.00 | $220.00 – $220.00 |
| Los Angeles Sunset Medical Center | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,496.00 | $220.00 – $220.00 |
| San Diego Clairemont Mesa Medical Center | SAN DIEGO, CA | $2,496.00 | $220.00 – $220.00 |
| Panorama Medical Center | PANORAMA CITY, CA | $2,496.00 | $220.00 – $220.00 |
| Moreno Valley Medical Center | MORENO VALLEY, CA | $2,496.00 | $220.00 – $220.00 |
| Dominican Hospital | Santa Cruz, CA | $2,506.50 | $266.80 – $4,734.50 |
| SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison | Madison, WI | $2,506.90 | $173.82 – $1,198.66 |
| UPMC Muncy | Muncy, PA | $2,514.00 | $239.62 – $1,439.33 |
| UPMC Williamsport | Williamsport, PA | $2,514.00 | $232.71 – $1,486.27 |
| OSF St Joseph Medical Center | Bloomington, IL | $2,526.00 | $255.69 – $260.80 |
| Franklin Memorial Hospital | Farmington, ME | $2,554.55 | $69.85 – $2,138.16 |
| Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital | Hobbs, NM | $2,567.04 | $236.68 – $331.35 |
| Glendale Memorial Hospital Health Center | Glendale, CA | $2,576.38 | $266.80 – $6,322.40 |
| Mercy Medical Center Merced | Merced, CA | $2,579.64 | $266.80 – $2,118.76 |
| Providence Mount Carmel Hospital | Colville, WA | $2,583.00 | not published |
| SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Janesville | Janesville, WI | $2,586.10 | $180.25 – $1,142.48 |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center | Des Moines, IA | $2,589.60 | $110.18 – $3,984.00 |
| MercyOne New Hampton Medical Center | New Hampton, IA | $2,598.70 | $1,582.81 – $3,998.00 |
| MercyOne Elkader Medical Center | Elkader, IA | $2,598.70 | $2,057.77 – $4,178.71 |
| MercyOne Newton Medical Center | Newton, IA | $2,598.70 | $225.85 – $3,998.00 |
| MercyOne Clinton Medical Center | Clinton, IA | $2,598.70 | $219.72 – $3,998.00 |
| MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center | Oelwein, IA | $2,598.70 | $1,528.04 – $3,998.00 |
| Mercy Hospital Healdton | Healdton, OK | $2,601.95 | $105.76 – $670.37 |
| Providence Mission Hospital - Mission Viejo | Mission Viejo, CA | $2,634.24 | $260.85 – $567.73 |
| CHRISTUS Health - West Beaumont | Beaumont, TX | $2,641.32 | $121.06 – $2,372.00 |
| Gouverneur Hospital | Gouverneur, NY | $2,642.74 | $331.29 – $331.29 |
| Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta | Mt Shasta, CA | $2,648.32 | $592.30 – $3,335.92 |
| RIDEOUT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | Marysville, CA | $2,654.96 | $267.58 – $8,957.85 |
| Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital | Grass Valley, CA | $2,684.13 | $266.80 – $1,385.72 |
| Banner Page Hospital | Page, AZ | $2,698.06 | $64.79 – $2,284.30 |
| SSM Health Monroe Hospital | Monroe, WI | $2,704.90 | $231.76 – $390.72 |
| UnityPoint Health - Trinity Bettendorf | Bettendorf, IA | $2,729.83 | $64.86 – $1,337.61 |
| UnityPoint Health - Trinity Moline | Rock Island, IL | $2,729.83 | $64.86 – $1,504.82 |
| UnityPoint Health - Trinity Muscatine | Muscatine, IA | $2,729.83 | $64.86 – $1,399.03 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH MENDOCINO COAST | Fort Bragg, CA | $2,731.08 | $69.75 – $2,875.25 |
| Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center | Thief River Falls, MN | $2,757.60 | $253.81 – $3,102.30 |
| Sanford Behavioral Health Thief River Falls | Thief River Falls, MN | $2,757.60 | $253.81 – $3,102.30 |
| Marion General Hospital | Marion, OH | $2,761.85 | $227.83 – $236.94 |
| Mercy Hospital Ardmore | Northwest Ardmore, OK | $2,766.40 | $105.76 – $1,078.95 |
| Kadlec Regional Medical Center | Richland, WA | $2,772.00 | $265.88 – $911.19 |
| California Hospital Medical Center | Los Angeles, CA | $2,797.48 | $240.12 – $4,556.72 |
| Southeastern Medical Center | Cambridge, OH | $2,802.80 | $225.74 – $234.77 |
| Sanford Wheaton | Wheaton, MN | $2,809.60 | $253.81 – $3,160.80 |
| Mercy Hospital Pittsburg | Pittsburg, KS | $2,811.25 | $105.76 – $912.30 |
| Corewell Health Lakeland St. Joseph | St Joseph, MI | $2,822.00 | $237.74 – $2,069.16 |
| Corewell Health Lakeland Watervliet | Watervliet, MI | $2,822.00 | $240.32 – $360.48 |