Tennessee

Cost of a Knee MRI Visit
in Tennessee

Name: MRI Knee Cost in Tennessee (2026)
Creator: Jayant Panwar
Published: 2026-03-18

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

National avg: $268Tennessee: $247

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.

Full data methodology and glossary

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.

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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.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — Knee MRI Costs in Tennessee

What is the average cost of a Knee MRI visit in Tennessee without insurance?

Uninsured patients in Tennessee typically pay between $65.83 and $478.85 for knee MRI imaging, with a median cost around $194.96 based on negotiated insurance rates. However, many facilities offer cash-pay discounts of 20-40% off these standard rates for self-pay patients. Independent imaging centers generally provide lower costs than hospital-based facilities, making it worthwhile to compare prices across multiple providers in your area.

Does Tennessee Medicaid cover Knee MRI visits?

TennCare (Tennessee's Medicaid program) covers medically necessary knee MRIs when properly authorized by a physician and deemed appropriate for diagnosis or treatment planning. Since Tennessee did not expand Medicaid, coverage is limited to traditional eligible populations including pregnant women, children, elderly, and disabled individuals. Prior authorization is typically required, and patients must use in-network imaging facilities to avoid coverage denials.

How do I find an affordable Knee MRI near me in Tennessee?

Compare prices between independent imaging centers and hospital-owned facilities, as independents often charge 40-60% less for the same procedure. Ask about cash-pay discounts if you're uninsured or have a high-deductible plan, and consider community health centers that may offer sliding-scale pricing. Rural patients should also explore options in nearby cities where increased competition typically drives down costs.

What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

Knee MRI imaging costs remain consistent whether ordered during an initial consultation or follow-up visit, ranging from $65.83 to $478.85 in Tennessee. The physician consultation fees would vary separately, with new patient visits typically costing more than established patient follow-ups. However, the actual MRI procedure pricing depends on the facility and your insurance coverage rather than whether it's your first or subsequent visit.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Knee MRI visit in Tennessee?

Yes, knee MRI imaging qualifies as an eligible medical expense for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) when prescribed by a physician for diagnostic purposes. You can use your HSA or FSA debit card directly at most Tennessee imaging centers, or pay out-of-pocket and submit receipts for reimbursement. Keep all documentation including the physician's order and itemized bills for your records.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee MRI in Tennessee?

While the MRI imaging itself requires in-person visits, telemedicine consultations in Tennessee can reduce overall costs by eliminating travel and office visit fees for initial evaluations or results discussions. Many orthopedic specialists and radiologists now offer virtual consultations to review MRI results and discuss treatment options, typically costing $75-150 less than in-person visits. Tennessee expanded telehealth coverage during the pandemic, making these services more accessible and affordable for patients statewide.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$183

$447

Office visit (CPT 73721)

Compare With Other States

Rank	State	Average↓	Min⇅	Max⇅	Providers⇅
1	Georgia(GA) Range: $64 – $1,036	$447	$64	$1,036	3,069
2	Wisconsin(WI) Range: $73 – $1,001	$404	$73	$1,001	5,766
3	Maine(ME) Range: $105 – $701	$366	$105	$701	1,696
4	Nevada(NV) Range: $80 – $642	$357	$80	$642	2,603
5	Wyoming(WY) Range: $59 – $697	$336	$59	$697	183
6	Massachusetts(MA) Range: $70 – $590	$329	$70	$590	1,753
7	Hawaii(HI) Range: $75 – $505	$322	$75	$505	106
8	Nebraska(NE) Range: $123 – $504	$322	$123	$504	2,645
9	Minnesota(MN) Range: $83 – $507	$306	$83	$507	3,234
10	Colorado(CO) Range: $60 – $642	$299	$60	$642	1,531
11	Washington(WA) Range: $59 – $505	$297	$59	$505	3,351
12	New Hampshire(NH) Range: $77 – $590	$296	$77	$590	3,687
13	Iowa(IA) Range: $80 – $516	$296	$80	$516	523
14	Illinois(IL) Range: $69 – $595	$295	$69	$595	7,078
15	North Carolina(NC) Range: $65 – $580	$290	$65	$580	2,625
16	Indiana(IN) Range: $59 – $595	$284	$59	$595	374
17	Vermont(VT) Range: $57 – $617	$281	$57	$617	342
18	New Mexico(NM) Range: $57 – $588	$281	$57	$588	1,220
19	West Virginia(WV) Range: $71 – $425	$274	$71	$425	275
20	Utah(UT) Range: $59 – $504	$273	$59	$504	354
21	District of Columbia(DC) Range: $53 – $560	$272	$53	$560	333
22	Louisiana(LA) Range: $55 – $429	$270	$55	$429	1,325
23	Rhode Island(RI) Range: $59 – $537	$267	$59	$537	84
24	Oregon(OR) Range: $75 – $393	$265	$75	$393	711
25	Virginia(VA) Range: $45 – $569	$262	$45	$569	3,190
26	New York(NY) Range: $48 – $582	$262	$48	$582	31,869
27	South Dakota(SD) Range: $131 – $327	$262	$131	$327	320
28	Alaska(AK) Range: $59 – $527	$261	$59	$527	47
29	Idaho(ID) Range: $59 – $462	$255	$59	$462	140
30	Michigan(MI) Range: $62 – $506	$252	$62	$506	2,225
31	Kansas(KS) Range: $65 – $504	$249	$65	$504	1,844
32	Montana(MT) Range: $59 – $358	$248	$59	$358	98
33	Tennessee(TN) Range: $66 – $479	$247	$66	$479	2,446
34	North Dakota(ND) Range: $83 – $327	$246	$83	$327	646
35	Kentucky(KY) Range: $59 – $492	$242	$59	$492	218
36	Missouri(MO) Range: $69 – $461	$238	$69	$461	5,342
37	Alabama(AL) Range: $53 – $479	$232	$53	$479	2,672
38	Pennsylvania(PA) Range: $55 – $506	$232	$55	$506	1,965
39	Texas(TX) Range: $59 – $464	$230	$59	$464	9,215
40	South Carolina(SC) Range: $58 – $468	$230	$58	$468	1,323
41	Delaware(DE) Range: $63 – $399	$226	$63	$399	201
42	California(CA) Range: $75 – $505	$220	$75	$505	10,126
43	Mississippi(MS) Range: $52 – $465	$220	$52	$465	1,307
44	Oklahoma(OK) Range: $55 – $464	$219	$55	$464	2,142
45	New Jersey(NJ) Range: $47 – $466	$219	$47	$466	7,266
46	Maryland(MD) Range: $26 – $457	$218	$26	$457	4,019
47	Ohio(OH) Range: $45 – $452	$214	$45	$452	4,556
48	Connecticut(CT) Range: $55 – $472	$211	$55	$472	891
49	Arkansas(AR) Range: $66 – $327	$192	$66	$327	128
50	Florida(FL) Range: $35 – $479	$191	$35	$479	4,991
51	Arizona(AZ) Range: $59 – $350	$183	$59	$350	5,301