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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Medical Center | Ranson, WV | $1,205.50 | not published |
| Berkeley Medical Center | Martinsburg, WV | $1,208.50 | $52.50 – $401.87 |
| Advocate Christ Medical Center | Oak Lawn, IL | $1,210.00 | $365.36 – $1,936.00 |
| New Ulm Medical Center | MN 56073, MN | $1,211.06 | $233.60 – $1,326.46 |
| 45-2896080 MBMC Leake | Carthage, MS | $1,214.10 | $211.52 – $215.75 |
| Community Hospital | Torrington, WY | $1,227.35 | $763.84 – $1,683.92 |
| Ascension Seton Smithville (Ascension Seton) | Smithville, TX | $1,242.99 | $156.11 – $1,969.00 |
| ST HELENA HOSPITAL | Vallejo, CA | $1,256.85 | $10.81 – $1,739.58 |
| Providence Newberg Medical Center | Newberg, OR | $1,283.25 | $141.75 – $485.34 |
| Providence Portland Medical Center | Portland, OR | $1,283.25 | $125.68 – $946.91 |
| Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center | Oregon City, OR | $1,283.25 | $125.68 – $946.91 |
| Providence St Vincent Medical Center | Portland, OR | $1,283.25 | $125.68 – $946.91 |
| Providence Milwaukie Hospital | Milwaukie, OR | $1,283.25 | $125.68 – $946.91 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Warrick (St. Mary's Warrick Hospital, Inc.) | Boonville, IN | $1,287.00 | $35.16 – $700.00 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Evansville (St. Mary's Health, Inc.) | IN 47750|10388 Warrick Wellness Trail Newburgh, IN | $1,287.00 | $53.39 – $700.00 |
| Pen Bay Medical Center | Rockport, ME | $1,293.45 | $67.70 – $1,007.40 |
| Mid Coast Hospital | Brunswick, ME | $1,293.45 | $67.03 – $913.18 |
| MultiCare Valley Hospital | Spokane Valley, WA | $1,302.80 | $172.74 – $1,039.16 |
| MultiCare Deaconess Hospital | Spokane, WA | $1,302.80 | $173.97 – $1,041.50 |
| The Unity Hospital of Rochester | Rochester, NY | $1,307.22 | $227.99 – $227.99 |
| Riverside Methodist Hospital | Columbus, OH | $1,309.10 | $230.07 – $230.07 |
| Grant Medical Center | Columbus, OH | $1,309.10 | $230.07 – $230.07 |
| Dublin Methodist Hospital | Dublin, OH | $1,309.10 | $230.07 – $230.07 |
| Doctors Hospital | Columbus, OH | $1,309.10 | $235.10 – $235.10 |
| Grady Memorial Hospital | Delaware, OH | $1,311.70 | $230.07 – $239.27 |
| St Patrick Hospital - Broadway Campus | Missoula, MT | $1,331.20 | $246.21 – $761.98 |
| CHI Saint Joseph Health - Flaget Memorial Hospital | Bardstown, KY | $1,339.88 | $427.06 – $2,860.13 |
| Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital | Franklin, WI | $1,341.96 | $234.71 – $836.00 |
| Ascension St. Francis Hospital, Inc. | Milwaukee, WI | $1,341.96 | $234.71 – $836.00 |
| Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - St. Joseph Campus | Milwaukee, WI | $1,341.96 | $234.71 – $836.00 |
| St Francis Downtown | Greenville, SC | $1,342.80 | not published |
| St Francis Eastside | Greenville, SC | $1,342.80 | not published |
| Wetzel County Hospital | New Martinsville, WV | $1,343.50 | $52.50 – $426.88 |
| CHI Saint Joseph Health - Saint Joseph London | London, KY | $1,345.99 | $427.06 – $2,836.47 |
| Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital | Novi, MI | $1,347.36 | $137.36 – $506.35 |
| Rappahannock General Hospital | Kilmarnock, VA | $1,353.00 | not published |
| martin north hospital | Stuart, FL | $1,355.25 | $55.67 – $1,042.50 |
| indian river hospital | Vero Beach, FL | $1,355.25 | $66.59 – $1,668.00 |
| SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital | Saint Louis, MO | $1,375.00 | $169.16 – $683.90 |
| United Hospital Center | Bridgeport, WV | $1,381.00 | $52.50 – $430.46 |
| Allina Health Faribault Medical Center | Faribualt, MN | $1,386.00 | $227.33 – $889.92 |
| Buffalo Hospital | Buffalo, MN | $1,386.00 | $227.33 – $816.44 |
| Cambridge Medical Center | Cambridge, MN | $1,386.00 | $227.33 – $816.44 |
| Owatonna Hospital | Owatonna, MN | $1,386.00 | $227.33 – $889.92 |
| River Falls Area Hospital | River Falls, MN | $1,386.00 | $227.33 – $1,302.45 |
| Providence St Luke's Rehabilitation Medical Center | Spokane, WA | $1,401.12 | $243.75 – $292.47 |
| Jackson General Hospital | Ripley, WV | $1,417.00 | not published |
| CHI Memorial Hospital - Georgia | Ringgold, GA | $1,422.88 | $303.54 – $2,884.20 |
| CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson | Hixson, TN | $1,422.88 | $186.96 – $2,884.20 |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs | Council Bluffs, IA | $1,424.64 | $239.40 – $2,883.20 |