Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in Rhode Island
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Rhode Island's compact healthcare market features concentrated provider networks primarily serving the Providence metropolitan area, with 84 active Knee MRI providers across the state. Patients typically pay between $59 and $537 for Knee MRI services, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $204. Despite being the smallest state, Rhode Island maintains robust specialty care access, allowing patients to browse all providers within the state's accessible geography.
Average
$267
Median
$204
Lowest
$59
Highest
$537
Providers
84
1% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri knee compare to related procedures in Rhode Island?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $88 | $321 | $879 | 84 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $65 | $191 | $527 | 71 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $79 | $283 | $827 | 86 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $54 | $171 | $454 | 86 |
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 Rhode Island
Rhode Island's healthcare costs run approximately 13% above national averages, reflecting the state's concentrated market and higher operational costs. The Ocean State's small geographic footprint creates unique market dynamics where limited competition among major health systems affects pricing power.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Providence and surrounding metropolitan areas concentrate most imaging facilities, while rural communities in western Rhode Island face limited local options. This geographic clustering forces some patients to travel to urban centers, though distances remain manageable given the state's compact size.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging at facilities like Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital typically charge higher facility fees than independent imaging centers. Lifespan and Care New England health systems dominate the market, with their facility ownership affecting pricing structures across multiple locations.
Insurance Market Competition in Rhode Island
The limited number of major insurers (BCBS RI, UHC, Tufts) creates less competitive pressure on negotiated rates compared to states with broader insurer participation. This concentrated market allows health systems to maintain stronger negotiating positions, contributing to higher reimbursement rates that affect patient costs.
Physician Supply and Demand in Rhode Island
With 84 active Knee MRI providers serving a population of just over one million, Rhode Island maintains adequate specialist density relative to its size. However, the concentration of specialists in urban areas creates scheduling bottlenecks during peak demand periods, though wait times remain shorter than in larger states with true provider shortages.
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 Rhode Island
What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in Rhode Island without insurance?
Does Rhode Island Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in Rhode Island?
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 Rhode Island?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in Rhode Island?
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 |