Louisiana

Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in Louisiana

Name: MRI Knee Cost in Louisiana (2026)
Creator: Jayant Panwar
Published: 2026-03-18

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Louisiana's healthcare landscape reflects significant regional disparities, with rural parishes facing provider shortages while urban centers like New Orleans and Baton Rouge maintain competitive specialty markets. Patients seeking a Knee MRI typically pay between $55 and $429, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $327. Louisiana has 1,325 active Knee MRI providers across the state, allowing patients to browse all available options when comparing costs and scheduling appointments.

Average

$270

Median

$327

Lowest

$55

Highest

$429

Providers

1,325

National avg: $268Louisiana: $270

1% above national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does mri knee compare to related procedures in Louisiana?

Procedure	CPT	Low	Median	High	Providers
MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast	70553	$92	$548	$766	1,172
MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast	72148	$60	$356	$702	1,176
CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast	74177	$66	$201	$424	1,112
CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast	71260	$48	$171	$288	1,374

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.

Full data methodology and glossary

Why Knee MRI Visit Costs Vary Across Louisiana

Louisiana's healthcare costs run approximately 1% above the national average, reflecting the state's mix of urban medical centers and underserved rural parishes. The state's unique geography, with extensive bayou regions and dispersed population centers, creates significant access challenges that impact pricing dynamics.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

New Orleans and Baton Rouge offer concentrated imaging services with multiple competing facilities, while rural parishes often have limited or no local MRI capability. Patients in northern Louisiana frequently travel to Shreveport for imaging services, while those in southwestern parishes may drive to Lake Charles or Lafayette. This geographic disparity creates cost pressures as rural patients face both higher facility fees and travel expenses.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Louisiana's major health systems like Ochsner Health and Our Lady of the Lake operate hospital-based imaging centers that typically charge higher facility fees than independent radiology practices. Ambulatory surgery centers and standalone imaging facilities often provide more competitive pricing due to lower overhead costs. The prevalence of hospital-owned facilities in urban markets can limit price competition despite multiple provider options.

Insurance Market Competition in Louisiana

BCBS Louisiana maintains the largest market share, followed by UHC and Aetna, creating moderate insurer competition that influences negotiated rates with imaging providers. The state's decision not to expand Medicaid has limited insurer participation in individual markets, potentially reducing competitive pressure on pricing. Rural parishes often have fewer insurer options, which can result in less favorable negotiated rates for imaging services.

Physician Supply and Demand in Louisiana

With 1,325 active Knee MRI providers statewide, Louisiana maintains adequate radiologist availability in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This supply imbalance creates longer wait times and potentially higher costs in underserved parishes, while urban competition helps moderate pricing. The concentration of medical training programs in New Orleans helps maintain specialist supply in southeastern Louisiana.

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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.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — Knee MRI Costs in Louisiana

What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in Louisiana without insurance?

Without insurance, Knee MRI costs in Louisiana range from $55 to $429, with a median cost of $327. These prices reflect negotiated rates that insurers pay, so uninsured patients may face higher list prices but can often negotiate cash-pay discounts. Many imaging centers offer self-pay rates that are competitive with these insurance rates when paid at the time of service.

Does Louisiana Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?

Louisiana has not expanded Medicaid, limiting eligibility to very low-income families, pregnant women, and disabled individuals. For those who qualify, Louisiana Medicaid does cover medically necessary Knee MRI when ordered by a physician and prior authorization requirements are met. Coverage typically requires documentation of symptoms and failed conservative treatment attempts.

How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in Louisiana?

Compare prices between hospital-based imaging centers and independent radiology practices, as standalone facilities often offer lower costs. Ask about cash-pay discounts, which can reduce costs by 20-40% even if you have insurance. Community health centers and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Louisiana may also provide referrals to affordable imaging options.

What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

Knee MRI is a diagnostic imaging procedure rather than a consultation, with costs ranging from $55 to $429 regardless of whether it's your first or follow-up MRI. However, the radiologist consultation to review results may vary in cost. If you're seeing an orthopedist or other specialist to discuss MRI results, new patient visits typically cost more than established patient follow-ups.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Knee MRI visit in Louisiana?

Yes, Knee MRI is considered a qualified medical expense that can be paid for using HSA or FSA funds. You can use these tax-advantaged accounts to cover deductibles, copays, or the full cost if you're uninsured. Keep receipts and documentation from your Louisiana imaging provider for tax purposes and FSA reimbursement if applicable.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in Louisiana?

While the MRI scan itself must be performed in person at an imaging facility, telemedicine can reduce overall costs by allowing remote consultations with specialists to discuss results. Many Louisiana orthopedists and sports medicine doctors offer telehealth follow-up visits to review MRI findings, eliminating travel costs and reducing consultation fees. Initial evaluation may still require in-person examination before MRI is ordered.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$183

$447

Office visit (CPT 73721)

Compare With Other States

Rank	State	Average↓	Min⇅	Max⇅	Providers⇅
1	Georgia(GA) Range: $64 – $1,036	$447	$64	$1,036	3,069
2	Wisconsin(WI) Range: $73 – $1,001	$404	$73	$1,001	5,766
3	Maine(ME) Range: $105 – $701	$366	$105	$701	1,696
4	Nevada(NV) Range: $80 – $642	$357	$80	$642	2,603
5	Wyoming(WY) Range: $59 – $697	$336	$59	$697	183
6	Massachusetts(MA) Range: $70 – $590	$329	$70	$590	1,753
7	Hawaii(HI) Range: $75 – $505	$322	$75	$505	106
8	Nebraska(NE) Range: $123 – $504	$322	$123	$504	2,645
9	Minnesota(MN) Range: $83 – $507	$306	$83	$507	3,234
10	Colorado(CO) Range: $60 – $642	$299	$60	$642	1,531
11	Washington(WA) Range: $59 – $505	$297	$59	$505	3,351
12	New Hampshire(NH) Range: $77 – $590	$296	$77	$590	3,687
13	Iowa(IA) Range: $80 – $516	$296	$80	$516	523
14	Illinois(IL) Range: $69 – $595	$295	$69	$595	7,078
15	North Carolina(NC) Range: $65 – $580	$290	$65	$580	2,625
16	Indiana(IN) Range: $59 – $595	$284	$59	$595	374
17	Vermont(VT) Range: $57 – $617	$281	$57	$617	342
18	New Mexico(NM) Range: $57 – $588	$281	$57	$588	1,220
19	West Virginia(WV) Range: $71 – $425	$274	$71	$425	275
20	Utah(UT) Range: $59 – $504	$273	$59	$504	354
21	District of Columbia(DC) Range: $53 – $560	$272	$53	$560	333
22	Louisiana(LA) Range: $55 – $429	$270	$55	$429	1,325
23	Rhode Island(RI) Range: $59 – $537	$267	$59	$537	84
24	Oregon(OR) Range: $75 – $393	$265	$75	$393	711
25	Virginia(VA) Range: $45 – $569	$262	$45	$569	3,190
26	New York(NY) Range: $48 – $582	$262	$48	$582	31,869
27	South Dakota(SD) Range: $131 – $327	$262	$131	$327	320
28	Alaska(AK) Range: $59 – $527	$261	$59	$527	47
29	Idaho(ID) Range: $59 – $462	$255	$59	$462	140
30	Michigan(MI) Range: $62 – $506	$252	$62	$506	2,225
31	Kansas(KS) Range: $65 – $504	$249	$65	$504	1,844
32	Montana(MT) Range: $59 – $358	$248	$59	$358	98
33	Tennessee(TN) Range: $66 – $479	$247	$66	$479	2,446
34	North Dakota(ND) Range: $83 – $327	$246	$83	$327	646
35	Kentucky(KY) Range: $59 – $492	$242	$59	$492	218
36	Missouri(MO) Range: $69 – $461	$238	$69	$461	5,342
37	Alabama(AL) Range: $53 – $479	$232	$53	$479	2,672
38	Pennsylvania(PA) Range: $55 – $506	$232	$55	$506	1,965
39	Texas(TX) Range: $59 – $464	$230	$59	$464	9,215
40	South Carolina(SC) Range: $58 – $468	$230	$58	$468	1,323
41	Delaware(DE) Range: $63 – $399	$226	$63	$399	201
42	California(CA) Range: $75 – $505	$220	$75	$505	10,126
43	Mississippi(MS) Range: $52 – $465	$220	$52	$465	1,307
44	Oklahoma(OK) Range: $55 – $464	$219	$55	$464	2,142
45	New Jersey(NJ) Range: $47 – $466	$219	$47	$466	7,266
46	Maryland(MD) Range: $26 – $457	$218	$26	$457	4,019
47	Ohio(OH) Range: $45 – $452	$214	$45	$452	4,556
48	Connecticut(CT) Range: $55 – $472	$211	$55	$472	891
49	Arkansas(AR) Range: $66 – $327	$192	$66	$327	128
50	Florida(FL) Range: $35 – $479	$191	$35	$479	4,991
51	Arizona(AZ) Range: $59 – $350	$183	$59	$350	5,301