Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in Tennessee
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Tennessee's non-expansion of Medicaid leaves many patients paying higher out-of-pocket costs for imaging services, making price transparency critical for MRI procedures. Knee MRI patients typically pay between $65.83 and $478.85, with a median cost of $194.96 based on negotiated insurance rates. With 2,446 active Knee MRI providers across Tennessee, patients have substantial options for finding affordable care throughout the state.
Average
$247
Median
$195
Lowest
$66
Highest
$479
Providers
2,446
8% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri knee compare to related procedures in Tennessee?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $109 | $319 | $823 | 2,409 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $72 | $188 | $499 | 2,351 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $84 | $247 | $462 | 2,737 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $61 | $169 | $333 | 2,701 |
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 Tennessee
Tennessee's healthcare costs run approximately 4% below the national average, reflecting the state's lower cost of living compared to coastal markets. However, the geographic divide between urban medical hubs and underserved rural Appalachian communities creates significant access and pricing disparities across the state.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Nashville and Memphis anchor Tennessee's healthcare infrastructure with multiple competing imaging centers, while rural counties in East Tennessee often rely on single hospital-based facilities. This geographic concentration drives higher costs in underserved areas where patients may travel 50+ miles for specialized imaging services. The Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River Valley regions face particular challenges with limited imaging access.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned outpatient centers dominate Tennessee's imaging market through systems like Vanderbilt, HCA Healthcare, and Regional One Health in Memphis. These facilities typically charge premium rates due to higher overhead costs and facility fees that independent imaging centers avoid. Free-standing imaging centers offer significant cost savings but may have more limited hours and ancillary services.
Insurance Market Competition in Tennessee
BCBS TN maintains the largest market share statewide, followed by UHC and Cigna, creating moderate insurer competition that benefits consumers through competitive pricing. Rural markets often see less insurer participation, potentially leading to higher negotiated rates due to limited provider networks. The absence of Medicaid expansion reduces insurer competition for lower-income populations who might otherwise access subsidized marketplace plans.
Physician Supply and Demand in Tennessee
With 2,446 active providers offering knee MRI services, Tennessee maintains adequate imaging capacity in urban areas while facing shortages in rural regions. This supply distribution creates pricing pressure in underserved markets where demand exceeds local capacity. Wait times for non-urgent knee MRIs typically range from same-day in competitive Nashville markets to 2-3 weeks in rural areas with limited providers.
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 Tennessee
What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in Tennessee without insurance?
Does Tennessee Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in Tennessee?
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 |