Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in Montana
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Montana's expansive rural geography creates unique challenges for specialty imaging access, with many patients traveling significant distances for advanced diagnostic services. Knee MRI costs in the state typically range from $58.90 to $358.24, with a median negotiated rate of $327.00 across 98 active providers. Browse all Knee MRI providers in Montana to compare costs and find the most convenient location for your imaging needs.
Average
$248
Median
$327
Lowest
$59
Highest
$358
Providers
98
8% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri knee compare to related procedures in Montana?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $100 | $552 | $590 | 91 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $73 | $368 | $2,851 | 350 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $79 | $621 | $1,834 | 333 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $54 | $171 | $263 | 108 |
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 Montana
Montana's Knee MRI costs run approximately 49% above national averages, reflecting the state's challenging rural geography and limited provider competition. The vast distances between population centers create natural service area monopolies for many imaging facilities.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Billings, Missoula, and Great Falls concentrate most of Montana's advanced imaging capacity, while rural counties often have no local MRI services. Patients in eastern Montana frequently travel 100+ miles for imaging studies, creating additional indirect costs. The urban-rural divide significantly impacts both access and pricing across the state.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers typically charge 15-25% more than independent radiology clinics in Montana due to higher overhead costs and facility fees. Major health systems like Billings Clinic and Providence Montana dominate urban markets and can command premium pricing. Smaller independent facilities often offer more competitive cash-pay rates to attract self-pay patients.
Insurance Market Competition in Montana
The concentration of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, PacificSource, and UnitedHealthcare creates moderate insurer competition, though BCBS Montana maintains the largest market share. Limited insurer participation in rural areas can reduce negotiating leverage for competitive rates. The relatively small population base limits the number of insurance options compared to larger states.
Physician Supply and Demand in Montana
With 98 active Knee MRI providers serving Montana's 1.1 million residents, the state maintains adequate imaging capacity in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. Radiologist recruitment challenges in remote areas contribute to higher imaging costs and longer wait times. The concentration of specialists in major cities creates pricing power for urban facilities while limiting patient options.
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 Montana
What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in Montana without insurance?
Does Montana Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in Montana?
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 Montana?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in Montana?
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 |