Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in North Dakota
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
North Dakota's healthcare landscape features some of the lowest physician-to-population ratios in the nation, yet Knee MRI services remain widely accessible across the state's vast rural terrain. Patients typically pay between $83 and $327 for a Knee MRI visit, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $327 based on negotiated insurance rates. North Dakota has 646 active Knee MRI providers serving communities from Fargo to the western oil fields, allowing patients to browse all providers statewide for the most convenient and affordable care options.
Average
$246
Median
$327
Lowest
$83
Highest
$327
Providers
646
9% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri knee compare to related procedures in North Dakota?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $221 | $552 | $3,100 | 649 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $145 | $368 | $2,450 | 649 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $82 | $10,549 | $10,549 | 486 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $118 | $171 | $7,881 | 653 |
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 North Dakota
North Dakota's healthcare costs run approximately 4% above national averages, influenced by the state's rural geography and the economic impact of the oil boom in western regions. The Bakken oil field development has created unique healthcare dynamics, with some communities experiencing provider shortages while others benefit from increased healthcare investment and modern facilities.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The state's vast rural landscape creates significant disparities in imaging access, with Fargo and Bismarck housing the majority of advanced MRI facilities while smaller communities rely on mobile imaging units or require patient travel. Rural facilities often operate with higher per-patient overhead costs due to lower volume, though some benefit from federal rural health designations that provide additional funding. Distance to providers can add travel costs that effectively increase the total expense of obtaining a Knee MRI for rural residents.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging departments typically charge higher facility fees than independent radiology clinics throughout North Dakota, reflecting different overhead structures and regulatory requirements. Major health systems like Sanford Health and Essentia Health operate extensive imaging networks across the state, often providing standardized pricing but potentially higher costs than smaller independent providers. Critical access hospitals in rural areas may charge different rates due to their unique reimbursement structures and community service obligations.
Insurance Market Competition in North Dakota
The state's insurance market features moderate competition among Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Sanford Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare, with BCBS historically maintaining the largest market share. This concentrated market structure allows insurers to negotiate more standardized rates with providers, potentially reducing price variation but limiting competitive pressure for lower costs. The presence of Sanford Health Plan, operated by a major regional health system, creates vertical integration that can influence both provider networks and pricing strategies.
Physician Supply and Demand in North Dakota
With 646 active Knee MRI providers serving a population of approximately 760,000, North Dakota maintains adequate imaging capacity despite ongoing physician recruitment challenges in rural areas. The state's relatively high provider-to-population ratio in urban areas helps keep wait times manageable and provides patients with multiple options for cost comparison. Rural provider shortages can create pockets of higher demand that may influence pricing, though telemedicine and mobile imaging services help bridge some access gaps.
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 North Dakota
What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in North Dakota without insurance?
Does North Dakota Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in North Dakota?
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 North Dakota?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in North Dakota?
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 |