Cost of a Brain MRI Visit
in Arkansas
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Arkansas maintains one of the nation's most cost-effective healthcare markets, with Brain MRI costs running approximately 19% below national averages. Patients typically pay between $103 and $630 for Brain MRI services, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $286 across 131 active providers statewide. Arkansas residents can browse all available Brain MRI providers to find quality care that fits their budget.
Average
$340
Median
$286
Lowest
$104
Highest
$630
Providers
131
29% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri brain compare to related procedures in Arkansas?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $66 | $183 | $327 | 128 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $72 | $164 | $380 | 133 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $85 | $244 | $460 | 164 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $61 | $152 | $278 | 149 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 70553 — MRI brain without contrast, then with contrast). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 70553 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 70553 (MRI brain without contrast, then with contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 70553 covers: the provider's professional fee for mri brain. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Why Brain MRI Visit Costs Vary Across Arkansas
Arkansas Brain MRI costs run 19% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost structure and limited market competition in many regions. The Natural State's healthcare landscape features significant disparities between metropolitan areas like Little Rock and vast rural territories with limited specialist access.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Little Rock and Fayetteville anchor Arkansas's Brain MRI services with multiple imaging centers and hospital-based facilities, while rural counties often require patients to travel 50+ miles for neuroimaging. The Mississippi Delta region faces particular challenges with provider shortages, driving higher demand and longer wait times for available services. Northwest Arkansas benefits from proximity to university medical centers, creating more competitive pricing around Bentonville and Rogers.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based Brain MRI services in Arkansas typically cost 40-60% more than independent imaging centers due to facility fees and higher overhead structures. Major health systems like Baptist Health and CHI St. Vincent operate multiple locations but often charge premium rates compared to standalone radiology practices. Academic medical centers including UAMS command the highest rates but offer specialized expertise for complex neurological conditions.
Insurance Market Competition in Arkansas
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas maintains dominant market share, limiting competitive pressure that might otherwise drive down negotiated rates for Brain MRI services. The concentrated insurance market means fewer payer options for providers, potentially leading to less favorable reimbursement negotiations. Limited insurer competition particularly affects rural areas where patients have minimal choice in both providers and insurance plans.
Physician Supply and Demand in Arkansas
Arkansas maintains 131 active Brain MRI providers serving a population of 3 million, creating adequate coverage in urban areas but significant gaps in rural regions. This distribution pattern allows metropolitan providers to maintain higher pricing due to demand concentration. Rural provider shortages mean patients often face longer wait times and may pay premium rates for timely access to neuroimaging services.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Brain MRI Costs in Arkansas
What is the average cost of a Brain MRI visit in Arkansas without insurance?
Does Arkansas Medicaid cover Brain MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Brain MRI near me in Arkansas?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Brain MRI visit in Arkansas?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Brain MRI in Arkansas?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 70553)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota Range: $221 – $3,100 | $1,291 |
| 2 | Minnesota Range: $88 – $3,100 | $1,247 |
| 3 | Wisconsin Range: $80 – $2,464 | $975 |
| 4 | Nevada Range: $135 – $1,458 | $698 |
| 5 | Georgia Range: $101 – $1,468 | $653 |
| 6 | Hawaii Range: $88 – $1,014 | $577 |
| 7 | Massachusetts Range: $90 – $1,060 | $567 |
| 8 | Maine Range: $178 – $1,023 | $548 |
| 9 | Wyoming Range: $100 – $1,112 | $537 |
| 10 | Utah Range: $94 – $1,045 | $510 |
| 11 | Nebraska Range: $208 – $793 | $504 |
| 12 | New Mexico Range: $98 – $1,063 | $492 |
| 13 | New Hampshire Range: $129 – $993 | $489 |
| 14 | Washington Range: $100 – $863 | $489 |
| 15 | North Carolina Range: $99 – $988 | $485 |
| 16 | Iowa Range: $95 – $842 | $483 |
| 17 | Colorado Range: $95 – $1,015 | $475 |
| 18 | Indiana Range: $85 – $1,014 | $471 |
| 19 | Louisiana Range: $92 – $766 | $468 |
| 20 | Alaska Range: $97 – $948 | $454 |
| 21 | South Dakota Range: $247 – $552 | $450 |
| 22 | West Virginia Range: $98 – $687 | $446 |
| 23 | Vermont Range: $82 – $983 | $443 |
| 24 | Virginia Range: $76 – $970 | $437 |
| 25 | Michigan Range: $80 – $917 | $430 |
| 26 | Rhode Island Range: $88 – $879 | $429 |
| 27 | Idaho Range: $88 – $793 | $428 |
| 28 | District of Columbia Range: $90 – $879 | $426 |
| 29 | Oregon Range: $103 – $623 | $426 |
| 30 | Illinois Range: $93 – $842 | $417 |
| 31 | New York Range: $82 – $926 | $417 |
| 32 | Tennessee Range: $109 – $823 | $417 |
| 33 | Montana Range: $100 – $590 | $414 |
| 34 | Kansas Range: $107 – $818 | $401 |
| 35 | Kentucky Range: $83 – $842 | $398 |
| 36 | South Carolina Range: $82 – $829 | $390 |
| 37 | Alabama Range: $88 – $811 | $384 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania Range: $57 – $879 | $384 |
| 39 | Oklahoma Range: $85 – $817 | $377 |
| 40 | Mississippi Range: $89 – $811 | $376 |
| 41 | New Jersey Range: $63 – $830 | $374 |
| 42 | Ohio Range: $78 – $813 | $373 |
| 43 | Texas Range: $90 – $721 | $355 |
| 44 | Maryland Range: $46 – $737 | $351 |
| 45 | Delaware Range: $98 – $596 | $345 |
| 46 | Missouri Range: $115 – $628 | $342 |
| 47 | Arkansas Range: $104 – $630 | $340 |
| 48 | Connecticut Range: $55 – $777 | $337 |
| 49 | Florida Range: $35 – $811 | $302 |
| 50 | Arizona Range: $100 – $550 | $288 |
| 51 | California Range: $55 – $654 | $265 |