Price Checker / CPT 72149
How much does MRI Lumbar Spine W/dye cost?
CPT 72149 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is roughly 8.4x the fair price. This is well above fair — push back or dispute it.
Fair price
$400–$810
What this should cost
With insurance
~$97,400
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,000
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $5,100 is $4,490 over the fair price (about 8.4x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for MRI 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinch Valley Health , VA | $11,620 | — | 4211% |
| Spring View Hospital LEBANON, KY | $11,285 | — | 4087% |
| Wythe County Community Hospital WYTHEVILLE, VA | $11,247 | — | 4073% |
| Maria Parham Health , NC | $10,433 | — | 3771% |
| Wilson Medical Center WILSON, NC | $8,871 | — | 3191% |
| Palomar Health Medical Center Escondido Escondido, CA | $8,451 | — | 3035% |
| Palomar Medical Center Poway Poway, CA | $8,451 | — | 3035% |
| Twin County Regional Hospital GALAX, VA | $8,065 | — | 2892% |
| TIRR Memorial Hermann , TX | $7,092 | — | 2531% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Conroe Conroe, TX | $6,862 | — | 2446% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Little Rock Little Rock, AR | $6,862 | — | 2446% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Austin Austin, TX | $6,862 | — | 2446% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Bossier City Bossier City, LA | $6,862 | — | 2446% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Broken Arrow Broken Arrow, OK | $6,862 | — | 2446% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Huntington Huntington, WV | $6,862 | — | 2446% |
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 Lumbar Spine W/dye
CPT code 72149 refers to mri lumbar spine w/dye (billing description: "Mri lumbar spine w/dye"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $270 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $270 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.