Price Checker / CPT 72133
How much does CT Scan Lumbar Spine Without & W/dye cost?
CPT 72133 · 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
$300–$590
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,150
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$740
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $5,539 is $5,089 over the fair price (about 12x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for CT Scan Lumbar Spine Without & 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaughan Regional Medical Center Parkway Campus Selma, AL | $19,313 | — | 9717% |
| Wythe County Community Hospital WYTHEVILLE, VA | $10,910 | — | 5446% |
| Community Rehabilitation Hospital South , IN | $10,623 | — | 5300% |
| Community Rehabilitation Hospital North , IN | $10,314 | — | 5143% |
| Baptist Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital , TN | $10,013 | — | 4990% |
| Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital , PA | $10,013 | — | 4990% |
| Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Northwest Arkansas , AR | $10,013 | — | 4990% |
| Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Oklahoma City , OK | $10,013 | — | 4990% |
| Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Oklahoma City South , OK | $10,013 | — | 4990% |
| Methodist Rehabilitation Hospital , TX | $10,013 | — | 4990% |
| Texas Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Worth , TX | $10,013 | — | 4990% |
| Kindred Hospital Las Vegas - Flamingo Las Vegas, NV | $8,991 | — | 4470% |
| Kindred Hospital Las Vegas - Sahara Las Vegas, NV | $8,991 | — | 4470% |
| TIRR Memorial Hermann , TX | $8,457 | — | 4199% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Muskogee Muskogee, OK | $8,080 | — | 4007% |
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 Without & W/dye
CPT code 72133 refers to ct scan lumbar spine without & w/dye (billing description: "Ct lumbar spine w/o & w/dye"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $197 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $197 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.