Price Checker / CPT 72158
How much does MRI Lumbar Spine Without & W/dye cost?
CPT 72158 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is roughly 8.6x the fair price. This is well above fair — push back or dispute it.
Fair price
$480–$950
What this should cost
With insurance
~$100,500
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,200
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $6,222 is $5,502 over the fair price (about 8.6x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for MRI 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 | $27,064 | — | 8403% |
| Clinch Valley Health , VA | $22,593 | — | 6998% |
| Wythe County Community Hospital WYTHEVILLE, VA | $13,095 | — | 4014% |
| Twin County Regional Hospital GALAX, VA | $10,950 | — | 3340% |
| Wilson Medical Center WILSON, NC | $10,600 | — | 3230% |
| Spring View Hospital LEBANON, KY | $10,375 | — | 3159% |
| PAM Specialty Hospital of Covington Covington, LA | $11,377 | — | 3117% |
| Maria Parham Health , NC | $10,171 | — | 3095% |
| PAM Rehabilitation Hospital of Allen , TX | $10,689 | — | 2922% |
| PAM Rehabilitation Hospital of Richardson Richardson, TX | $10,689 | — | 2922% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Little Rock Little Rock, AR | $9,208 | — | 2793% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Austin Austin, TX | $9,208 | — | 2793% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Bossier City Bossier City, LA | $9,208 | — | 2793% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Broken Arrow Broken Arrow, OK | $9,208 | — | 2793% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Huntington Huntington, WV | $9,208 | — | 2793% |
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 Without & W/dye
CPT code 72158 refers to mri lumbar spine without & w/dye (billing description: "Mri lumbar spine w/o & w/dye"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $318 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $318 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.