Price spread for CPT 70553: Hospital pricing ranges from $1,481 to $6,028. Compared with Medicare ($183), this is roughly 8x-33x.
What Is a MRI Brain (With & Without Contrast)?
A brain MRI with and without contrast creates detailed images of your brain to evaluate tumors, stroke, MS, and other neurologic conditions.
When Is It Ordered?
Doctors commonly order this for persistent headaches, seizures, neurologic deficits, suspected tumors, or stroke workups.
How Long Does It Take?
45-60 minutes.
How to Prepare
Remove metal objects. You may be asked to fast before contrast.
How to Save on a Brain MRI
Potential savings: 40-70% by comparing hospitals and independent imaging centers.
- Get a cash price quote from at least 3 facilities.
- Ask whether an independent imaging center is acceptable for your order.
- Confirm whether contrast is medically necessary for your specific case.
Hospital Prices for CPT 70553
Table below shows a sample of hospitals with reported prices for this procedure.
| Hospital | City | State | Cash Price | Negotiated | Gross Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHCG CXXI LLC | BEAUMONT | TX | $2 | N/A | $6 |
| NORTHSHORE EXTENDED CARE HOSPITAL, LLC | LACOMBE | LA | $2 | N/A | $6 |
| VIBRA HOSPITAL OF AMARILLO, LLC | AMARILLO | TX | N/A | $5 | N/A |
| VIBRA HOSPITAL OF CENTRAL DAKOTAS LLC | MANDAN | ND | N/A | $5 | N/A |
| VIBRA HOSPITAL OF FARGO LLC | FARGO | ND | N/A | $5 | N/A |
| VIBRA OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN LLC | TAYLOR | MI | N/A | $10 | N/A |
| VIBRA HOSPITAL OF DENVER LLC | THORNTON | CO | N/A | $17 | N/A |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH SYSTEM GEORGIA INC | CHATSWORTH | GA | N/A | $26 | N/A |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH SYSTEM GEORGIA INC | CALHOUN | GA | N/A | $26 | N/A |
| REDMOND PARK HOSPITAL LLC | ROME | GA | N/A | $26 | N/A |
| VIBRA HOSPITAL OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS LLC | ROCHDALE | MA | N/A | $30 | N/A |
| ST LUKES METHODIST HOSPITAL | CEDAR RAPIDS | IA | N/A | N/A | $40 |
| TEMECULA VALLEY HOSPITAL, INC. | TEMECULA | CA | N/A | $47 | $9,972 |
| BRISTOL HOSPITAL INCORPORATED | BRISTOL | CT | $69 | N/A | $774 |
| HHC INDIANA INC. | PLYMOUTH | IN | $123 | N/A | $175 |
| NORTON HOSPITALS INC | LOUISVILLE | KY | $123 | N/A | $175 |
| QUEEN'S NORTH HAWAII COMMUNITY HOSPITAL | KAMUELA | HI | $136 | $538 | $454 |
| DESOTO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT | ARCADIA | FL | $146 | $474 | $146 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HOSPITAL AND CLINICS | MIAMI | FL | $146 | $474 | $146 |
| ANAHEIM GLOBAL MEDICAL CENTER INC | ANAHEIM | CA | $160 | N/A | $7,407 |
| MARIN GENERAL HOSPITAL | GREENBRAE | CA | $173 | N/A | $160 |
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | LEXINGTON | KY | $179 | N/A | $601 |
| SUBURBAN HOSPITAL, INC. | BETHESDA | MD | $222 | N/A | $222 |
| CENTRAL IOWA HOSPITAL CORPORATION | DES MOINES | IA | N/A | $241 | $255 |
| HAMILTON MEDICAL CENTER, INC | DALTON | GA | N/A | $241 | $255 |
| THE FINLEY HOSPITAL | DUBUQUE | IA | N/A | $241 | $255 |
| AGH LAVEEN LLC | LAVEEN | AZ | N/A | $242 | $4,547 |
| THE FINLEY HOSPITAL | DUBUQUE | IA | N/A | $251 | $255 |
| THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY OF HABERSHAM COUNTY | DEMOREST | GA | N/A | $251 | $255 |
| HENRY HEYWOOD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | GARDNER | MA | $321 | $437 | $458 |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS M D ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOUSTON | TX | N/A | $333 | $1,146 |
| MORTON COUNTY HOSPITAL | ELKHART | KS | $346 | N/A | $7,531 |
| THOREK MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | CHICAGO | IL | N/A | N/A | $350 |
| COUNTY OF MONTEREY | SALINAS | CA | $357 | $357 | $357 |
| MARIANJOY REHABILITATION HOSPITAL & CLINICS INC | WHEATON | IL | N/A | N/A | $357 |
| CHARLESTON HOSPITAL, INC. | CHARLESTON | WV | N/A | $363 | N/A |
| HERBERT J THOMAS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION | SOUTH CHARLESTON | WV | N/A | $363 | N/A |
| OAKBEND MEDICAL CENTER | RICHMOND | TX | N/A | $382 | $3,112 |
| TRI-CITY HOSPITAL | OCEANSIDE | CA | N/A | $386 | $2,514 |
| PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISTRICT NO 2 SKAGIT COUNTY WASHINGTON | ANACORTES | WA | N/A | $395 | $3,995 |
| ARISE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, LLC | AUSTIN | TX | $396 | N/A | N/A |
| OCALA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LLC | OCALA | FL | N/A | $410 | $4,000 |
| DELTA COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | DELTA | CO | N/A | N/A | $411 |
| PRIME HEALTHCARE CENTINELA LLC | INGLEWOOD | CA | N/A | N/A | $411 |
| COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER, INC. | TOMS RIVER | NJ | N/A | $414 | $5,927 |
| MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER, INC | LAKEWOOD | NJ | N/A | $414 | $5,927 |
| MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER, INC | LONG BRANCH | NJ | N/A | $414 | $5,927 |
| CLARA MAASS MEDICAL CENTER | BELLEVILLE | NJ | N/A | $420 | $5,927 |
| COOPERMAN BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER INC. | LIVINGSTON | NJ | N/A | $420 | $5,927 |
| NEWARK BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER INC | NEWARK | NJ | N/A | $420 | $5,927 |
| HOWARD COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL, INC, | COLUMBIA | MD | $428 | N/A | $428 |
| LUMINIS HEALTH DOCTORS COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER, INC | LANHAM | MD | $431 | $402 | $435 |
| SOUTH TEXAS ASC LLC | SAN ANTONIO | TX | $431 | $352 | N/A |
| LUMINIS HEALTH J. KENT MCNEW FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER, INC. | ANNAPOLIS | MD | $434 | $404 | $438 |
| JERSEY CITY MEDICAL CENTER | JERSEY CITY | NJ | N/A | $445 | $5,927 |
| NOLAND HOSPITAL TUSCALOOSA II, LLC | TUSCALOOSA | AL | $460 | N/A | $3,764 |
| CAPE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE | NJ | $471 | $1,003 | $5,399 |
| BANNER HEALTH | FORT COLLINS | CO | $495 | N/A | $1,789 |
| DIGNITY HEALTH | SANTA MARIA | CA | $495 | N/A | $1,789 |
| PROSPECT ROCKVILLE HOSPITAL INC | VERNON | CT | $495 | N/A | $1,789 |
| ST BERNARD HOSPITAL | CHICAGO | IL | $500 | $210 | $4,762 |
| ROSELAND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO | IL | $511 | $471 | $942 |
| MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OF SHERIDAN COUNTY | SHERIDAN | WY | $519 | $604 | $649 |
| AHMC SETON MEDICAL CENTER LLC | DALY CITY | CA | $562 | N/A | $562 |
| DIGNITY HEALTH | MERCED | CA | $562 | N/A | $562 |
| DYERSBURG HEALTH | DYERSBURG | TN | $565 | $272 | $706 |
| JACKSON MADISON COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL | JACKSON | TN | $565 | $303 | $706 |
| MARTIN HEALTH | MARTIN | TN | $565 | $272 | $706 |
| MILAN GENERAL HOSPITAL, INC. | MILAN | TN | $565 | $274 | $706 |
| PENN STATE HEALTH HAMPDEN MEDICAL CENTER | ENOLA | PA | $567 | $1,003 | $1,933 |
| PIPELINE-WEST SUBURBAN MEDICAL CENTER, LLC | OAK PARK | IL | $578 | N/A | $771 |
| VAIL CLINIC INC | VAIL | CO | $581 | $581 | $775 |
| LUMINIS HEALTH ANNE ARUNDEL MEDICAL CENTER, INC | ANNAPOLIS | MD | $621 | $579 | $627 |
| ST. ANTHONYS HOSPITAL, INC. | SAINT PETERSBURG | FL | $634 | N/A | $1,007 |
| WISCONSIN AVE PSYCHIATRIC CENTER INC | WASHINGTON | DC | $641 | $536 | $1,281 |
State-by-State Pricing for Brain MRI
Explore where hospitals in each state report prices for CPT 70553.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Brain MRI cost without insurance?
Based on published hospital data, Brain MRI prices typically range from $1,481 to $6,028. Always ask for the self-pay or cash rate before scheduling.
Why do Brain MRI prices vary so much by hospital?
Hospitals negotiate different payer contracts, apply different facility fees, and use different chargemaster pricing strategies. That creates large price gaps for the same CPT code.
What does Medicare pay for CPT 70553?
In this dataset, the Medicare facility reference is $183 for CPT 70553.
How can I lower my Brain MRI bill?
Compare multiple facilities, ask for the cash price up front, and request a written estimate with all facility and professional fees.
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