Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in District of Columbia
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
The District of Columbia maintains the highest concentration of specialists per capita in the United States, creating a competitive market for diagnostic imaging services. Knee MRI costs in DC typically range from $53 to $560, with a median negotiated rate of $201 based on transparency data from over 333 active providers. With this extensive network of imaging centers and hospital-based facilities throughout the district, patients can browse all available Knee MRI providers to find the most cost-effective option for their diagnostic needs.
Average
$272
Median
$201
Lowest
$53
Highest
$560
Providers
333
1% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri knee compare to related procedures in District of Columbia?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $90 | $310 | $879 | 333 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $59 | $191 | $527 | 331 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $72 | $266 | $827 | 350 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $49 | $165 | $454 | 338 |
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 73721 — MRI any joint of lower extremity without 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 73721 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 73721 (MRI any joint of lower extremity without contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 73721 covers: the provider's professional fee for mri knee. 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 Knee MRI Visit Costs Vary Across District of Columbia
District of Columbia's healthcare costs run approximately 20% above the national average, reflecting the region's high cost of living and concentration of premium medical facilities. The district's unique status as a federal enclave creates a healthcare market heavily influenced by government employee insurance plans and academic medical centers.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
As an entirely urban jurisdiction, District of Columbia offers concentrated access to imaging facilities throughout all neighborhoods, from Capitol Hill to Georgetown. This density creates competitive pricing compared to surrounding suburban Maryland and Virginia markets, where patients may travel longer distances for similar services.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-affiliated imaging centers like those at Georgetown University Hospital and George Washington University Hospital typically charge 30-50% more than independent facilities due to higher overhead costs. Academic medical centers in DC also factor research and teaching costs into their pricing structures, affecting overall imaging expenses.
Insurance Market Competition in District of Columbia
The dominance of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna creates a relatively concentrated market with limited competition on pricing. Federal employee health benefits programs significantly influence negotiated rates, as government workers represent a large portion of the insured population in DC.
Physician Supply and Demand in District of Columbia
With over 333 active Knee MRI providers serving a population of just over 700,000, District of Columbia has one of the highest provider-to-patient ratios in the nation. This abundant supply helps keep wait times short and provides patients with numerous options for cost comparison and scheduling flexibility.
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 — Knee MRI Costs in District of Columbia
What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in District of Columbia without insurance?
Does District of Columbia Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in District of Columbia?
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 Knee MRI visit in District of Columbia?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in District of Columbia?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 73721)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Range: $64 – $1,036 | $447 |
| 2 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $1,001 | $404 |
| 3 | Maine Range: $105 – $701 | $366 |
| 4 | Nevada Range: $80 – $642 | $357 |
| 5 | Wyoming Range: $59 – $697 | $336 |
| 6 | Massachusetts Range: $70 – $590 | $329 |
| 7 | Hawaii Range: $75 – $505 | $322 |
| 8 | Nebraska Range: $123 – $504 | $322 |
| 9 | Minnesota Range: $83 – $507 | $306 |
| 10 | Colorado Range: $60 – $642 | $299 |
| 11 | Washington Range: $59 – $505 | $297 |
| 12 | New Hampshire Range: $77 – $590 | $296 |
| 13 | Iowa Range: $80 – $516 | $296 |
| 14 | Illinois Range: $69 – $595 | $295 |
| 15 | North Carolina Range: $65 – $580 | $290 |
| 16 | Indiana Range: $59 – $595 | $284 |
| 17 | Vermont Range: $57 – $617 | $281 |
| 18 | New Mexico Range: $57 – $588 | $281 |
| 19 | West Virginia Range: $71 – $425 | $274 |
| 20 | Utah Range: $59 – $504 | $273 |
| 21 | District of Columbia Range: $53 – $560 | $272 |
| 22 | Louisiana Range: $55 – $429 | $270 |
| 23 | Rhode Island Range: $59 – $537 | $267 |
| 24 | Oregon Range: $75 – $393 | $265 |
| 25 | Virginia Range: $45 – $569 | $262 |
| 26 | New York Range: $48 – $582 | $262 |
| 27 | South Dakota Range: $131 – $327 | $262 |
| 28 | Alaska Range: $59 – $527 | $261 |
| 29 | Idaho Range: $59 – $462 | $255 |
| 30 | Michigan Range: $62 – $506 | $252 |
| 31 | Kansas Range: $65 – $504 | $249 |
| 32 | Montana Range: $59 – $358 | $248 |
| 33 | Tennessee Range: $66 – $479 | $247 |
| 34 | North Dakota Range: $83 – $327 | $246 |
| 35 | Kentucky Range: $59 – $492 | $242 |
| 36 | Missouri Range: $69 – $461 | $238 |
| 37 | Alabama Range: $53 – $479 | $232 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania Range: $55 – $506 | $232 |
| 39 | Texas Range: $59 – $464 | $230 |
| 40 | South Carolina Range: $58 – $468 | $230 |
| 41 | Delaware Range: $63 – $399 | $226 |
| 42 | California Range: $75 – $505 | $220 |
| 43 | Mississippi Range: $52 – $465 | $220 |
| 44 | Oklahoma Range: $55 – $464 | $219 |
| 45 | New Jersey Range: $47 – $466 | $219 |
| 46 | Maryland Range: $26 – $457 | $218 |
| 47 | Ohio Range: $45 – $452 | $214 |
| 48 | Connecticut Range: $55 – $472 | $211 |
| 49 | Arkansas Range: $66 – $327 | $192 |
| 50 | Florida Range: $35 – $479 | $191 |
| 51 | Arizona Range: $59 – $350 | $183 |