Price Checker / CPT 72147
How much does MRI Chest Spine W/dye cost?
CPT 72147 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is roughly 10x the fair price. This is well above fair — push back or dispute it.
Fair price
$410–$810
What this should cost
With insurance
~$101,500
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,000
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $6,374 is $5,764 over the fair price (about 10x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for MRI Chest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Muir Health Walnut Creek Medical Center , CA | $119,569 | $53,806 | 43986% |
| Clinch Valley Health , VA | $11,295 | — | 4065% |
| Wythe County Community Hospital WYTHEVILLE, VA | $10,906 | — | 3921% |
| Maria Parham Health , NC | $8,942 | — | 3197% |
| Twin County Regional Hospital GALAX, VA | $8,065 | — | 2874% |
| UPMC Bedford , PA | $7,347 | $5,878 | 2609% |
| Palomar Health Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA | $7,098 | — | 2517% |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA | $7,098 | — | 2517% |
| TIRR Memorial Hermann , TX | $6,301 | — | 2223% |
| Fleming County Hospital FLEMINGSBURG, KY | $5,988 | — | 2108% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Little Rock Little Rock, AR | $5,967 | — | 2100% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Austin Austin, TX | $5,967 | — | 2100% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Bossier City Bossier City, LA | $5,967 | — | 2100% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Broken Arrow Broken Arrow, OK | $5,967 | — | 2100% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Huntington Huntington, WV | $5,967 | — | 2100% |
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 Spine W/dye
CPT code 72147 refers to mri chest spine w/dye (billing description: "Mri chest spine w/dye"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $271 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $271 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.