Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Arkansas
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Arkansas residents benefit from Lower Back MRI costs that run approximately 40% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower healthcare overhead and concentrated provider networks. Patients typically pay between $72 and $380 for MRI lumbar spine services, with a median cost of $164 based on negotiated insurance rates. With 133 active Lower Back MRI providers across the Natural State, patients can browse all available specialists and imaging centers to find the most cost-effective option for their specific insurance plan.
Average
$205
Median
$164
Lowest
$72
Highest
$380
Providers
133
46% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Arkansas?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $104 | $286 | $630 | 131 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $66 | $183 | $327 | 128 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $85 | $244 | $460 | 164 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $61 | $152 | $278 | 149 |
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 72148 — MRI lumbar spine 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 72148 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 72148 (MRI lumbar spine without contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 72148 covers: the provider's professional fee for mri lumbar spine. 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 Lower Back MRI Visit Costs Vary Across Arkansas
Arkansas Lower Back MRI costs run approximately 12% below national averages, influenced by the state's lower cost of living and concentrated healthcare markets in urban centers. Rural counties face limited provider access, while metro areas like Little Rock and Fayetteville maintain competitive pricing due to multiple health system presence.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Northwest Arkansas and the Little Rock metro area contain most of the state's 133 Lower Back MRI providers, creating access challenges for residents in the Arkansas Delta and Ozark Mountain regions. Rural patients often travel 50-100 miles for specialized imaging services, though some mobile MRI units serve outlying communities on rotating schedules. Urban concentration allows for competitive pricing but rural scarcity can drive up costs due to limited options.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned outpatient imaging centers dominate Arkansas's healthcare landscape through major systems like Baptist Health and CHI St. Vincent, typically charging premium rates due to higher operational overhead. Independent radiology clinics and freestanding imaging centers offer more competitive pricing but have limited geographic presence outside metro areas. Academic medical centers like UAMS command the highest rates due to subspecialty expertise and research facility costs.
Insurance Market Competition in Arkansas
Blue Cross Blue Shield Arkansas maintains dominant market share across the state, reducing competitive pressure on negotiated rates with imaging providers. Limited insurer options in rural Arkansas counties give BCBS significant leverage in rate negotiations, though this can benefit consumers through extensive provider networks. The concentrated insurance market creates less pricing variation between providers compared to states with more competitive insurer landscapes.
Physician Supply and Demand in Arkansas
Arkansas's 133 active Lower Back MRI providers create adequate coverage for urban populations but leave rural areas underserved relative to national standards. The specialist shortage in radiological services means longer wait times in rural regions, though this scarcity doesn't necessarily translate to higher costs due to the state's overall lower cost structure. Provider concentration in teaching hospitals and major health systems helps maintain quality standards while controlling costs through volume economies.
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 — Lower Back MRI Costs in Arkansas
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Arkansas without insurance?
Does Arkansas Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Arkansas?
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 Lower Back MRI visit in Arkansas?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Arkansas?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 72148)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska Range: $73 – $2,851 | $1,925 |
| 2 | Montana Range: $73 – $2,851 | $1,097 |
| 3 | Washington Range: $65 – $2,851 | $1,095 |
| 4 | Idaho Range: $65 – $2,851 | $1,068 |
| 5 | North Dakota Range: $145 – $2,450 | $987 |
| 6 | Minnesota Range: $88 – $2,450 | $969 |
| 7 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $1,477 | $577 |
| 8 | Georgia Range: $69 – $949 | $416 |
| 9 | Nevada Range: $102 – $750 | $400 |
| 10 | Hawaii Range: $85 – $577 | $373 |
| 11 | Louisiana Range: $60 – $702 | $372 |
| 12 | Massachusetts Range: $74 – $590 | $344 |
| 13 | Maine Range: $116 – $659 | $344 |
| 14 | New Mexico Range: $62 – $720 | $323 |
| 15 | Wyoming Range: $65 – $663 | $320 |
| 16 | Nebraska Range: $129 – $477 | $310 |
| 17 | Colorado Range: $65 – $663 | $305 |
| 18 | Oregon Range: $88 – $447 | $301 |
| 19 | Utah Range: $65 – $603 | $298 |
| 20 | South Dakota Range: $142 – $368 | $293 |
| 21 | West Virginia Range: $79 – $418 | $289 |
| 22 | New Hampshire Range: $85 – $579 | $288 |
| 23 | North Carolina Range: $72 – $572 | $285 |
| 24 | Iowa Range: $85 – $513 | $284 |
| 25 | Illinois Range: $76 – $553 | $271 |
| 26 | Indiana Range: $64 – $554 | $269 |
| 27 | Vermont Range: $63 – $583 | $267 |
| 28 | Rhode Island Range: $65 – $527 | $261 |
| 29 | District of Columbia Range: $59 – $527 | $259 |
| 30 | Michigan Range: $67 – $527 | $258 |
| 31 | Tennessee Range: $72 – $499 | $253 |
| 32 | Virginia Range: $49 – $553 | $253 |
| 33 | Kentucky Range: $64 – $516 | $249 |
| 34 | Kansas Range: $71 – $502 | $244 |
| 35 | New York Range: $53 – $529 | $243 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania Range: $55 – $527 | $238 |
| 37 | South Carolina Range: $63 – $465 | $229 |
| 38 | Alabama Range: $59 – $452 | $223 |
| 39 | Oklahoma Range: $61 – $473 | $222 |
| 40 | Texas Range: $65 – $447 | $220 |
| 41 | New Jersey Range: $52 – $459 | $218 |
| 42 | Missouri Range: $76 – $415 | $218 |
| 43 | Maryland Range: $29 – $447 | $217 |
| 44 | Ohio Range: $49 – $457 | $214 |
| 45 | California Range: $72 – $470 | $213 |
| 46 | Mississippi Range: $58 – $447 | $213 |
| 47 | Delaware Range: $66 – $363 | $211 |
| 48 | Connecticut Range: $55 – $456 | $206 |
| 49 | Arkansas Range: $72 – $380 | $205 |
| 50 | Florida Range: $35 – $473 | $189 |
| 51 | Arizona Range: $65 – $356 | $181 |