Lower Back (Lumbar Spine) MRI (without contrast) cost at US hospitals

MRI lumbar spine without contrast · CPT 72148

What is Lower Back (Lumbar Spine) MRI (without contrast)? Read the full explainer →

Lower Back (Lumbar Spine) MRI (without contrast)

This is the standard scan for lower back trouble that runs down a leg. It shows the discs, the nerve roots and the space they travel through, which is where sciatica usually comes from. No dye is injected and there is no radiation.

$233.59

lowest cash price

$2,069.40

national median

$19,472.20

highest cash price

938

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.

Cheapest published cash price

$233.59

Henry Ford Rochester Hospital — Rochester, MI

Most expensive published cash price

$19,472.20

HCA HealthONE SKY RIDGE — Lone Tree, CO

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 24 $286.04 $682.20 $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 34 $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
HCA HealthONE AURORA Aurora, CO not published $163.56 – $517.79
HCA HOUSTON KINGWOOD HUMBLE, TX not published $193.20 – $505.70
HORIZON MEDICAL CENTER DICKSON, TN not published $313.62 – $530.38
MEDICAL CITY MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER - ALLIANCE FORT WORTH, TX not published $1,046.00 – $1,046.00
MEDICAL CITY LEWISVILLE HOSPITAL LEWISVILLE, TX not published $194.18 – $1,046.00
MEDICAL CITY GREEN OAKS HOSPITAL DALLAS, TX not published $197.14 – $197.14
Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center Alamogordo, NM not published $233.47 – $368.73
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, TX not published $212.84 – $2,251.00
Swedish Edmonds Hospital Edmonds, WA not published $271.72 – $1,048.68
Henry Ford Genesys Hospital Grand Blanc Twp, MI not published $140.71 – $514.31
cleveland clinic childrens hospital for rehabilitation Cleveland, OH not published $355.08 – $411.15
Ascension Saint Alexius Women And Children's Hospital (Ascension St. Alexius Medical Center) Hoffman Estates, IL not published $239.37 – $1,973.70
Garrett Regional Medical Center Oakland, MD not published not published
HCA FLORIDA OSCEOLA HOSPITAL ORLANDO, FL not published $517.79 – $2,626.92
HCA FLORIDA ORANGE PARK HOSPITAL MIDDLEBURG, FL not published $517.79 – $2,544.09
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center Williamsburg, VA not published $237.46 – $244.44
Ascension Saint Thomas Hickman Centerville, TN not published $179.77 – $559.14
Henry Ford Madison Heights Hospital Madison Heights, MI not published $143.88 – $779.32
Ascension Via Christi Hospital St. Teresa, Inc. Wichita, KS not published $223.55 – $939.84
Spring Harbor Hospital Westbrook, ME not published $67.03 – $143.39
Ascension Via Christi St. Francis (Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc.) Wichita, KS not published $223.55 – $939.84
Henry J. Carter Specialty Hospital New York, NY not published not published
Ascension Via Christi Rehabilitation Hospital, Inc. Wichita, KS not published $219.63 – $939.84
HCA FLORIDA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL JACKSONVILLE, FL not published $517.79 – $2,544.09
Ascension St. Vincent Seton (St. Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital, Inc.) Indianapolis, IN not published $53.39 – $700.00
Ascension Alexian Brothers Rehabilitation Hospital (Alexian Brothers Medical Center) Elk Grove Village, IL not published $239.37 – $1,973.70
Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital Hoffman Estates, IL not published $317.63 – $1,973.70

Related imaging procedures