Mississippi

Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in Mississippi

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

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Mississippi's healthcare system faces unique challenges with its non-expanded Medicaid program and significant rural provider gaps affecting access to specialized imaging services. Knee MRI costs in the state typically range from $52 to $465, with a median negotiated rate of $142 based on Transparency in Coverage data from over 1,300 active providers. Patients across Mississippi can browse all available Knee MRI providers to compare costs and find the most affordable option for their specific insurance plan.

Average

$220

Median

$142

Lowest

$52

Highest

$465

Providers

1,307

National avg: $268Mississippi: $220

18% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does mri knee compare to related procedures in Mississippi?

Procedure	CPT	Low	Median	High	Providers
MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast	70553	$89	$228	$811	1,312
MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast	72148	$58	$134	$447	1,303
CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast	74177	$71	$204	$460	1,327
CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast	71260	$48	$124	$307	1,325

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 Mississippi

Mississippi's healthcare costs run approximately 14% below the national average, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and reduced provider overhead compared to major metropolitan markets. The state's largely rural geography creates significant disparities in both access and pricing for specialized imaging services like Knee MRI scans.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Jackson, Gulfport, and Hattiesburg contain the majority of Mississippi's imaging facilities, while rural counties often lack local MRI capabilities entirely. Patients in the Mississippi Delta region frequently travel 50-100 miles to access Knee MRI services, with limited competition keeping prices relatively stable. This geographic concentration means rural patients face both higher transportation costs and fewer pricing options.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

University of Mississippi Medical Center and Baptist Health Systems dominate the hospital-based imaging market, typically charging higher facility fees than independent radiology centers. Outpatient imaging centers in Mississippi often provide the same Knee MRI quality at 30-50% lower costs due to reduced overhead and administrative expenses. These independent facilities concentrate in urban areas where patient volume supports their business model.

Insurance Market Competition in Mississippi

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi holds significant market share, followed by UnitedHealthcare and Magnolia Health Plan, creating a moderately competitive environment for negotiated rates. This concentration allows insurers to negotiate favorable rates with providers, contributing to Mississippi's below-average imaging costs. Limited insurer competition in rural markets can result in less favorable network options for patients in those areas.

Physician Supply and Demand in Mississippi

With over 1,300 providers offering Knee MRI services statewide, Mississippi maintains adequate imaging capacity in urban areas while facing shortages in rural regions. This supply-demand imbalance keeps prices stable in competitive markets like Jackson while potentially limiting options and increasing costs in underserved areas. The concentration of radiologists in academic medical centers creates referral patterns that can affect pricing and wait times across different regions.

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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 Mississippi

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

Without insurance, Knee MRI costs in Mississippi range from $52 to $465, with a median rate of $142 based on negotiated rates from over 1,300 providers statewide. Many facilities offer cash-pay discounts of 20-40% for uninsured patients, potentially bringing your out-of-pocket cost below the median rate. Independent imaging centers typically offer lower prices than hospital-based facilities for self-pay patients.

Does Mississippi Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?

Mississippi Medicaid covers medically necessary Knee MRI scans when ordered by a physician, though prior authorization may be required depending on the clinical indication. Since Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid, coverage is limited to specific categories including pregnant women, children, parents with very low incomes, and disabled individuals. If you qualify for Mississippi Medicaid, your Knee MRI will typically be covered with minimal out-of-pocket costs when performed at participating facilities.

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

Compare prices between hospital-based imaging centers and independent radiology facilities, as independents often charge 30-50% less for the same scan. Ask about cash-pay discounts if you're uninsured or have a high-deductible plan, and consider traveling to urban areas like Jackson or Gulfport where competition keeps prices lower. Community health centers and federally qualified health centers may also offer sliding-scale pricing based on your income.

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

Knee MRI scans are diagnostic imaging procedures with consistent pricing regardless of whether it's your first scan or a follow-up study. The radiologist's interpretation fee remains the same at $52-$465 based on our Mississippi data, though some facilities may offer package discounts for patients requiring serial imaging to monitor treatment progress. Your referring physician's consultation fees would be separate from the MRI cost itself.

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

Yes, Knee MRI scans ordered by a physician for diagnostic purposes qualify as eligible medical expenses under both Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) rules. You can use these pre-tax dollars to pay for both the facility fee and radiologist interpretation costs. Keep your receipt and any documentation from your healthcare provider showing the medical necessity of the scan for your records.

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

While the actual MRI scan must be performed in-person at an imaging facility, telehealth consultations can reduce overall costs by eliminating travel expenses for follow-up appointments to review results. Many Mississippi radiologists and orthopedic specialists now offer virtual consultations to discuss MRI findings, which typically cost less than in-person visits. This is particularly beneficial for rural Mississippi patients who otherwise face long drives to specialty clinics in Jackson or other urban centers.

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