Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Colorado
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Colorado's competitive ambulatory surgery center market, particularly in the Denver metro area, creates significant price variation for medical imaging services across the state. Lower Back MRI patients typically pay between $64.98 and $662.61, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $187.74 based on negotiated insurance rates. Colorado has 1,437 active Lower Back MRI providers, giving patients substantial choice when browsing all providers throughout the state.
Average
$305
Median
$188
Lowest
$65
Highest
$663
Providers
1,437
20% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Colorado?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $95 | $315 | $1,015 | 1,451 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $60 | $194 | $642 | 1,531 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $80 | $257 | $672 | 1,656 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $55 | $157 | $441 | 1,721 |
| DEXA Scan Bone density and body composition imaging | 77080 | $8 | $39 | $90 | 1,411 |
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 Colorado
Colorado's healthcare costs run approximately 7% above the national average, driven by the state's high cost of living along the Front Range and significant geographic barriers in mountain communities. The competitive ambulatory surgery center market in Denver helps moderate pricing in urban areas, while rural regions face higher costs due to limited provider availability and transportation challenges.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Denver-Boulder-Fort Collins corridor contains the majority of Colorado's imaging facilities, creating convenient access and competitive pricing for Front Range residents. Rural areas, particularly in the Western Slope and San Luis Valley, have limited imaging options, often requiring patients to travel significant distances or pay premium rates at critical access hospitals. This geographic disparity creates substantial cost and access differences across Colorado's diverse regions.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Independent imaging centers throughout Colorado typically offer lower rates than hospital-based outpatient departments, as they operate with reduced overhead costs and administrative complexity. Major health systems like SCL Health, UCHealth, and Presbyterian/St. Joseph dominate hospital-based imaging, while numerous independent centers compete aggressively on price, particularly in the Denver metro area. Freestanding facilities can often schedule appointments more quickly and offer extended hours compared to hospital-based alternatives.
Insurance Market Competition in Colorado
Colorado maintains a competitive insurance marketplace with UHC, Anthem, and Kaiser as dominant carriers, along with several regional plans competing for market share. This competition helps keep negotiated rates reasonable, particularly in urban markets where insurers have multiple provider options for contract negotiations. The state's insurance exchange also provides transparency tools that help consumers compare plan costs and provider networks before enrollment.
Physician Supply and Demand in Colorado
With 1,437 active Lower Back MRI providers statewide, Colorado maintains adequate radiologist availability in urban areas, though rural regions experience periodic shortages requiring teleradiology support. This provider density in metro areas creates healthy competition and helps moderate pricing, while rural shortages can lead to longer wait times and higher costs. The state's growing population continues to increase demand for imaging services, particularly along the rapidly expanding Front Range corridor.
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 Colorado
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Colorado without insurance?
Does Colorado Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Colorado?
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 Colorado?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Colorado?
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 |