Price Checker / CPT 71551
How much does MRI Chest W/dye cost?
CPT 71551 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is roughly 5x the fair price. This is well above fair — push back or dispute it.
Fair price
$560–$1,100
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,250
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,400
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $4,157 is $3,327 over the fair price (about 5x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for MRI Chest W/dye
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin County Regional Hospital GALAX, VA | $7,763 | — | 1990% |
| Klickitat County Public Hospital District No 1 Goldendale, WA | $6,295 | — | 1595% |
| Kindred Hospital Chicago Lakeshore Chicago, IL | $5,575 | — | 1401% |
| Kindred Hospital Chicago - North Northlake, IL | $5,575 | — | 1401% |
| Kindred Hospital Chicago - Northlake Northlake, IL | $5,575 | — | 1401% |
| Kindred Hospital Sycamore Sycamore, IL | $5,575 | — | 1401% |
| Watertown Regional Medical Center Watertown, WI | $5,114 | — | 1277% |
| Kindred Hospital Baldwin Park Baldwin Park, CA | $4,981 | — | 1241% |
| Kindred Hospital Brea Brea, CA | $4,981 | — | 1241% |
| Kindred Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | $4,981 | — | 1241% |
| Kindred Hospital Ontario Ontario, CA | $4,981 | — | 1241% |
| Kindred Hospital Paramount Paramount, CA | $4,981 | — | 1241% |
| Kindred Hospital Rancho Rancho Cucamonga, CA | $4,981 | — | 1241% |
| Kindred Hospital Riverside Perris, CA | $4,981 | — | 1241% |
| Kindred Hospital San Diego San Diego, CA | $4,981 | — | 1241% |
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 Chest W/dye
CPT code 71551 refers to mri chest w/dye (billing description: "Mri chest w/dye"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $371 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $371 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.