Price spread for CPT 72148: Hospital pricing ranges from $723 to $3,967. Compared with Medicare ($149), this is roughly 5x-27x.
What Is a MRI Lumbar Spine (Without Contrast)?
A lumbar spine MRI evaluates discs, nerves, and vertebrae to identify causes of low back pain or sciatica.
When Is It Ordered?
Doctors commonly order this for chronic lower back pain, numbness, leg weakness, and possible herniated discs.
How Long Does It Take?
30-45 minutes.
How to Prepare
Remove metal objects. No fasting required.
How to Save on a Lumbar Spine 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 72148
Table below shows a sample of hospitals with reported prices for this procedure.
| Hospital | City | State | Cash Price | Negotiated | Gross Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 HOSPITAL OF AMARILLO, LLC | AMARILLO | TX | N/A | $5 | N/A |
| BRISTOL HOSPITAL INCORPORATED | BRISTOL | CT | $21 | N/A | $400 |
| 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 OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN LLC | TAYLOR | MI | N/A | $32 | N/A |
| VIBRA HOSPITAL OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS LLC | ROCHDALE | MA | N/A | $37 | N/A |
| ST LUKES METHODIST HOSPITAL | CEDAR RAPIDS | IA | N/A | N/A | $40 |
| TEMECULA VALLEY HOSPITAL, INC. | TEMECULA | CA | N/A | $47 | $6,849 |
| VIBRA HOSPITAL OF DENVER LLC | THORNTON | CO | N/A | $50 | N/A |
| QUEEN'S NORTH HAWAII COMMUNITY HOSPITAL | KAMUELA | HI | $89 | $193 | $296 |
| WISCONSIN AVE PSYCHIATRIC CENTER INC | WASHINGTON | DC | $96 | $536 | $191 |
| ALHAMBRA HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER, LP | ALHAMBRA | CA | N/A | N/A | $101 |
| ANAHEIM GLOBAL MEDICAL CENTER INC | ANAHEIM | CA | $101 | N/A | N/A |
| KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITALS | DOWNEY | CA | N/A | N/A | $101 |
| LOS ALAMITOS MEDICAL CENTER, INC. | LOS ALAMITOS | CA | N/A | N/A | $101 |
| PALOMAR HEALTH | ESCONDIDO | CA | N/A | N/A | $101 |
| SIERRA NEVADA MEMORIAL-MINERS HOSPITAL | GRASS VALLEY | CA | N/A | $101 | N/A |
| HHC INDIANA INC. | PLYMOUTH | IN | $123 | $221 | $175 |
| NORTON HOSPITALS INC | LOUISVILLE | KY | $123 | $221 | $175 |
| SUBURBAN HOSPITAL, INC. | BETHESDA | MD | $124 | N/A | $124 |
| DESOTO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT | ARCADIA | FL | $130 | $117 | $130 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HOSPITAL AND CLINICS | MIAMI | FL | $130 | $117 | $130 |
| AGH LAVEEN LLC | LAVEEN | AZ | N/A | $136 | $6,996 |
| OAKBEND MEDICAL CENTER | RICHMOND | TX | N/A | $149 | $2,021 |
| EAST CARROLL PARISH HOSPITAL | LAKE PROVIDENCE | LA | $162 | $173 | $216 |
| MARIN GENERAL HOSPITAL | GREENBRAE | CA | $189 | N/A | $101 |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS M D ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOUSTON | TX | N/A | $199 | $760 |
| HENRY HEYWOOD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | GARDNER | MA | $202 | $275 | $288 |
| MORTON COUNTY HOSPITAL | ELKHART | KS | $207 | N/A | $5,793 |
| CHARLESTON HOSPITAL, INC. | CHARLESTON | WV | N/A | $231 | N/A |
| HERBERT J THOMAS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION | SOUTH CHARLESTON | WV | N/A | $231 | N/A |
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | LEXINGTON | KY | $240 | N/A | $357 |
| TRI-CITY HOSPITAL | OCEANSIDE | CA | N/A | $241 | $1,678 |
| MARIANJOY REHABILITATION HOSPITAL & CLINICS INC | WHEATON | IL | N/A | N/A | $242 |
| HOWARD COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL, INC, | COLUMBIA | MD | $243 | N/A | $243 |
| LUMINIS HEALTH DOCTORS COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER, INC | LANHAM | MD | $245 | $228 | $247 |
| LUMINIS HEALTH J. KENT MCNEW FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER, INC. | ANNAPOLIS | MD | $246 | $229 | $249 |
| ARISE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, LLC | AUSTIN | TX | $248 | N/A | N/A |
| OCALA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LLC | OCALA | FL | N/A | $250 | $3,600 |
| PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISTRICT NO 2 SKAGIT COUNTY WASHINGTON | ANACORTES | WA | N/A | $252 | $1,887 |
| SOUTH TEXAS ASC LLC | SAN ANTONIO | TX | $269 | $213 | N/A |
| NOLAND HOSPITAL TUSCALOOSA II, LLC | TUSCALOOSA | AL | $288 | $187 | $2,924 |
| CAPE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER | CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE | NJ | $300 | $618 | $5,222 |
| GARFIELD PARK HOSPITAL LLC | CHICAGO | IL | $302 | $208 | $2,866 |
| KUAKINI MEDICAL CENTER | HONOLULU | HI | $302 | $208 | $2,866 |
| ROSELAND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO | IL | $303 | $299 | $597 |
| MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OF SHERIDAN COUNTY | SHERIDAN | WY | $338 | $381 | $423 |
| LUMINIS HEALTH ANNE ARUNDEL MEDICAL CENTER, INC | ANNAPOLIS | MD | $352 | $328 | $356 |
| PENN STATE HEALTH HAMPDEN MEDICAL CENTER | ENOLA | PA | $354 | $627 | $1,208 |
| CALVERTHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER INC | PRINCE FREDERICK | MD | $364 | N/A | $372 |
| CLARA MAASS MEDICAL CENTER | BELLEVILLE | NJ | N/A | $368 | $3,358 |
| COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER, INC. | TOMS RIVER | NJ | N/A | $368 | $3,358 |
| COOPERMAN BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER INC. | LIVINGSTON | NJ | N/A | $368 | $3,358 |
| JERSEY CITY MEDICAL CENTER | JERSEY CITY | NJ | N/A | $368 | $3,358 |
| MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER, INC | LAKEWOOD | NJ | N/A | $368 | $3,358 |
| MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER, INC | LONG BRANCH | NJ | N/A | $368 | $3,358 |
| NEWARK BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER INC | NEWARK | NJ | N/A | $368 | $3,358 |
| ST. ANTHONYS HOSPITAL, INC. | SAINT PETERSBURG | FL | $379 | N/A | $601 |
| DYERSBURG HEALTH | DYERSBURG | TN | $418 | $172 | $523 |
| JACKSON MADISON COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL | JACKSON | TN | $418 | $189 | $523 |
| MARTIN HEALTH | MARTIN | TN | $418 | $172 | $523 |
| MILAN GENERAL HOSPITAL, INC. | MILAN | TN | $418 | $172 | $523 |
| STATE OF MISSISSIPPI- UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER | GRENADA | MS | $441 | $441 | $1,422 |
| PENN STATE HEALTH HOLY SPIRIT MEDICAL CENTER | CAMP HILL | PA | $446 | $2,882 | $1,208 |
| THE MILTON S HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER | HERSHEY | PA | $446 | $2,715 | $1,208 |
| PIPELINE-WEST SUBURBAN MEDICAL CENTER, LLC | OAK PARK | IL | $452 | N/A | $603 |
| ANIMAS SURGICAL HOSPITAL LLC | DURANGO | CO | $452 | $2,655 | $2,840 |
| FREDERICK HEALTH HOSPITAL INC | FREDERICK | MD | N/A | N/A | $459 |
| THE JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL | BALTIMORE | MD | $466 | N/A | $466 |
| HOUSTON HOSPITALS INC | PERRY | GA | $475 | $152 | $1,000 |
| HOUSTON HOSPITALS INC | WARNER ROBINS | GA | $475 | $209 | $1,000 |
| PUNXSUTAWNEY AREA HOSPITAL INC | PUNXSUTAWNEY | PA | $491 | $203 | N/A |
State-by-State Pricing for Lumbar Spine MRI
Explore where hospitals in each state report prices for CPT 72148.
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 Lumbar Spine MRI cost without insurance?
Based on published hospital data, Lumbar Spine MRI prices typically range from $723 to $3,967. Always ask for the self-pay or cash rate before scheduling.
Why do Lumbar Spine 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 72148?
In this dataset, the Medicare facility reference is $149 for CPT 72148.
How can I lower my Lumbar Spine 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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