Price Checker / CPT 72132
How much does CT Scan Lumbar Spine W/dye cost?
CPT 72132 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 12x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$250–$510
What this should cost
With insurance
~$100,000
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$640
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $4,688 is $4,308 over the fair price (about 12x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for CT Scan Lumbar Spine 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wythe County Community Hospital WYTHEVILLE, VA | $10,026 | — | 5844% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Conroe Conroe, TX | $8,041 | — | 4667% |
| Palomar Health Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA | $7,116 | — | 4119% |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA | $7,116 | — | 4119% |
| Kindred Hospital Bay Area - St. Petersburg St. Petersburg, FL | $6,662 | — | 3850% |
| Kindred Hospital Bay Area - Tampa Tampa, FL | $6,662 | — | 3850% |
| Kindred Hospital Central Tampa Tampa, FL | $6,662 | — | 3850% |
| Kindred Hospital Melbourne Melbourne, FL | $6,662 | — | 3850% |
| Kindred Hospital North Florida Green Cove Springs, FL | $6,662 | — | 3850% |
| Kindred Hospital Ocala Ocala, FL | $6,662 | — | 3850% |
| Kindred Hospital South Florida - Coral Gables Coral Gables, FL | $6,662 | — | 3850% |
| Kindred Hospital South Florida - Ft. Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL | $6,662 | — | 3850% |
| Kindred Hospital South Florida - Hollywood Hollywood, FL | $6,662 | — | 3850% |
| Kindred Hospital The Palm Beaches Riviera Beach, FL | $6,662 | — | 3850% |
| Kindred Hospital Las Vegas - Flamingo Las Vegas, NV | $6,297 | — | 3633% |
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 CT Scan Lumbar Spine W/dye
CPT code 72132 refers to ct scan lumbar spine w/dye (billing description: "Ct lumbar spine w/dye"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $169 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $169 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.