Price Checker / CPT 72157
How much does MRI Chest Spine Without & W/dye cost?
CPT 72157 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is roughly 9x the fair price. This is well above fair — push back or dispute it.
Fair price
$480–$960
What this should cost
With insurance
~$102,900
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,200
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $6,493 is $5,773 over the fair price (about 9x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for MRI Chest 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 | $27,064 | — | 8394% |
| Clinch Valley Health , VA | $16,126 | — | 4961% |
| Twin County Regional Hospital GALAX, VA | $15,961 | — | 4909% |
| Maria Parham Health , NC | $12,473 | — | 3814% |
| Spring View Hospital LEBANON, KY | $12,438 | — | 3803% |
| Wythe County Community Hospital WYTHEVILLE, VA | $12,127 | — | 3706% |
| Wilson Medical Center WILSON, NC | $11,389 | — | 3474% |
| PAM Specialty Hospital of Luling Luling, TX | $12,334 | — | 3384% |
| Warm Springs Rehabilitation Center Lockhart , TX | $12,334 | — | 3384% |
| PAM Specialty Hospital of Covington Covington, LA | $11,377 | — | 3113% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Little Rock Little Rock, AR | $10,165 | — | 3090% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Austin Austin, TX | $10,165 | — | 3090% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Bossier City Bossier City, LA | $10,165 | — | 3090% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Broken Arrow Broken Arrow, OK | $10,165 | — | 3090% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Huntington Huntington, WV | $10,165 | — | 3090% |
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 Without & W/dye
CPT code 72157 refers to mri chest spine without & w/dye (billing description: "Mri chest spine w/o & w/dye"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $319 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $319 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.