Price Checker / CPT 70553
How much does MRI — brain (with and without contrast) cost?
CPT 70553 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is roughly 8x the fair price. This is well above fair — push back or dispute it.
Fair price
$480–$950
What this should cost
With insurance
~$79,200
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,200
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $5,744 is $5,024 over the fair price (about 8x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for MRI — brain (with and without contrast)
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care - Carmel Noblesville, IN | $889 | — | 31449% |
| Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care - Fishers Noblesville, IN | $889 | — | 31449% |
| Riverview Health Noblesville Hospital Noblesville, IN | $889 | — | 31449% |
| Riverview Health Westfield Hospital Noblesville, IN | $889 | — | 31449% |
| Vaughan Regional Medical Center Parkway Campus Selma, AL | $27,064 | — | 8438% |
| Clinch Valley Health , VA | $15,651 | — | 4838% |
| Twin County Regional Hospital GALAX, VA | $14,939 | — | 4613% |
| Wilson Medical Center WILSON, NC | $13,510 | — | 4162% |
| Spring View Hospital LEBANON, KY | $10,290 | — | 3146% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Conroe Conroe, TX | $9,466 | — | 2886% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Little Rock Little Rock, AR | $9,466 | — | 2886% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Austin Austin, TX | $9,466 | — | 2886% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Bossier City Bossier City, LA | $9,466 | — | 2886% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Broken Arrow Broken Arrow, OK | $9,466 | — | 2886% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Huntington Huntington, WV | $9,466 | — | 2886% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About MRI — brain (with and without contrast)
CPT code 70553 refers to mri — brain (with and without contrast) (billing description: "Mri brain stem w/o & w/dye"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $317 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $317 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.