Price Checker / CPT 73218
How much does MRI Upper Extremity Without Contrast cost?
CPT 73218 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is roughly 7.8x the fair price. This is well above fair — push back or dispute it.
Fair price
$450–$910
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,300
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,150
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $5,284 is $4,604 over the fair price (about 7.8x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for MRI Upper Extremity Without 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WTH Dyersburg Hospital , TN | — | $225 | 23845% |
| Ochsner Acadia General Hospital CROWLEY, LA | $8,512 | — | 2707% |
| 23330 Emergency Center, LLC d/b/a/ Elite Hospital Kingwood Kingwood, TX | $7,133 | — | 2252% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Conroe Conroe, TX | $6,550 | — | 2060% |
| Watertown Regional Medical Center Watertown, WI | $6,539 | — | 2056% |
| Margaret Mary Health , OH | $6,428 | — | 2019% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Little Rock Little Rock, AR | $5,615 | — | 1751% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Austin Austin, TX | $5,615 | — | 1751% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Bossier City Bossier City, LA | $5,615 | — | 1751% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Broken Arrow Broken Arrow, OK | $5,615 | — | 1751% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Huntington Huntington, WV | $5,615 | — | 1751% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Muskogee Muskogee, OK | $5,615 | — | 1751% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Round Rock Round Rock, TX | $5,615 | — | 1751% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Southwest Louisiana Lake Charles, LA | $5,615 | — | 1751% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Tucson Tucson, AZ | $5,615 | — | 1751% |
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 Upper Extremity Without Contrast
CPT code 73218 refers to mri upper extremity without contrast (billing description: "Mri upper extremity w/o dye"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $303 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $303 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.