Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in South Dakota
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
South Dakota's predominantly rural healthcare infrastructure creates unique pricing patterns for specialized imaging services across the state's 66 counties. Patients seeking a Knee MRI typically pay between $131 and $327, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $327 based on negotiated insurance rates. South Dakota maintains 320 active Knee MRI providers, offering patients reasonable access to imaging services throughout the state.
Average
$262
Median
$327
Lowest
$131
Highest
$327
Providers
320
3% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri knee compare to related procedures in South Dakota?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $247 | $552 | $552 | 321 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $142 | $368 | $368 | 323 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $79 | $268 | $2,156 | 88 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $134 | $171 | $222 | 321 |
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 South Dakota
South Dakota's healthcare costs run approximately 3% above the national average, reflecting the state's unique blend of rural access challenges and urban healthcare concentration. The state's dispersed population across vast geographic distances creates cost pressures that affect medical imaging pricing throughout the region.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Sioux Falls and Rapid City anchor the state's imaging infrastructure, while rural counties often lack local MRI capabilities, forcing patients to travel significant distances for services. This geographic reality creates pricing advantages in urban markets due to competition while rural areas may face higher costs due to limited options. Transportation costs for rural patients effectively increase the total cost of obtaining imaging services.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging departments typically charge higher facility fees than independent radiology centers due to increased overhead and regulatory requirements. Sanford Health and Avera Health Systems operate many of the state's hospital-based imaging centers, while several independent practices provide competition in urban markets. Equipment financing costs for expensive MRI machines are often reflected in pricing structures across all facility types.
Insurance Market Competition in South Dakota
The presence of Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Sanford Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare creates moderate insurer competition, though rural markets may have fewer plan options than urban areas. Regional insurers often negotiate different rates with the same providers, leading to cost variations based on plan selection. Limited insurer competition in some markets can result in higher negotiated rates compared to states with more robust insurance marketplaces.
Physician Supply and Demand in South Dakota
With 320 active providers offering Knee MRI services, South Dakota maintains reasonable access to imaging relative to its population size, though geographic distribution favors urban centers. The state's physician shortage in rural areas extends to radiology services, potentially affecting wait times and pricing in underserved regions. Adequate provider supply in metropolitan areas helps maintain competitive pricing while rural markets may experience premium pricing due to limited alternatives.
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 South Dakota
What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in South Dakota without insurance?
Does South Dakota Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in South 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 South Dakota?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in South 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 |