Price Checker / CPT 72131
How much does CT Scan Lumbar Spine Without Contrast cost?
CPT 72131 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 14x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$190–$390
What this should cost
With insurance
~$94,900
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$490
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $3,919 is $3,629 over the fair price (about 14x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for CT Scan Lumbar Spine 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WTH Dyersburg Hospital , TN | — | $110 | 20932% |
| Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital , AZ | $13,568 | $10,176 | 10343% |
| Abrazo Surprise Hospital , AZ | $13,568 | $10,176 | 10343% |
| 23330 Emergency Center, LLC d/b/a/ Elite Hospital Kingwood Kingwood, TX | $7,474 | — | 5652% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Muskogee Muskogee, OK | $6,362 | — | 4796% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Conroe Conroe, TX | $6,332 | — | 4773% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Broken Arrow Broken Arrow, OK | $5,946 | — | 4476% |
| Kindred Hospital Bay Area - St. Petersburg St. Petersburg, FL | $5,813 | — | 4374% |
| Kindred Hospital Bay Area - Tampa Tampa, FL | $5,813 | — | 4374% |
| Kindred Hospital Central Tampa Tampa, FL | $5,813 | — | 4374% |
| Kindred Hospital Melbourne Melbourne, FL | $5,813 | — | 4374% |
| Kindred Hospital North Florida Green Cove Springs, FL | $5,813 | — | 4374% |
| Kindred Hospital Ocala Ocala, FL | $5,813 | — | 4374% |
| Kindred Hospital South Florida - Coral Gables Coral Gables, FL | $5,813 | — | 4374% |
| Kindred Hospital South Florida - Ft. Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL | $5,813 | — | 4374% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
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About CT Scan Lumbar Spine Without Contrast
CPT code 72131 refers to ct scan lumbar spine without contrast (billing description: "Ct lumbar spine w/o dye"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $130 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $130 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.