Price Checker / CPT 72148
How much does MRI — lower back/lumbar spine (no contrast) cost?
CPT 72148 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 11x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$290–$580
What this should cost
With insurance
~$88,200
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$730
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $4,788 is $4,348 over the fair price (about 11x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for MRI — lower back/lumbar spine (no 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaughan Regional Medical Center Parkway Campus Selma, AL | $19,316 | — | 9975% |
| Clinch Valley Health , VA | $11,295 | — | 5792% |
| 23330 Emergency Center, LLC d/b/a/ Elite Hospital Kingwood Kingwood, TX | $8,645 | — | 4409% |
| Emanuel Medical Center SWAINSBORO, GA | $11,488 | — | 4406% |
| Wilson Medical Center WILSON, NC | $7,848 | — | 3993% |
| Palomar Health Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA | $7,683 | — | 3907% |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA | $7,683 | — | 3907% |
| Twin County Regional Hospital GALAX, VA | $7,466 | — | 3794% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Conroe Conroe, TX | $7,259 | — | 3686% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Little Rock Little Rock, AR | $7,259 | — | 3686% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Austin Austin, TX | $7,259 | — | 3686% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Bossier City Bossier City, LA | $7,259 | — | 3686% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Broken Arrow Broken Arrow, OK | $7,259 | — | 3686% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Huntington Huntington, WV | $7,259 | — | 3686% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Muskogee Muskogee, OK | $7,259 | — | 3686% |
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About MRI — lower back/lumbar spine (no contrast)
CPT code 72148 refers to mri — lower back/lumbar spine (no contrast) (billing description: "Mri lumbar spine w/o dye"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $192 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $192 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.