Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Georgia
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Georgia's healthcare market operates at costs roughly 1% below national averages, making Lower Back MRI care more accessible across the state's diverse urban and rural communities. Patients seeking Lower Back MRI services typically encounter costs ranging from $68 to $949, with a median negotiated rate of $231 based on insurance agreements. With nearly 3,000 active Lower Back MRI providers throughout Georgia, patients have substantial options when browsing all available specialists in the state.
Average
$416
Median
$231
Lowest
$69
Highest
$949
Providers
2,964
9% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Georgia?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $101 | $390 | $1,468 | 3,018 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $64 | $240 | $1,036 | 3,069 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $85 | $301 | $809 | 3,330 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $61 | $196 | $699 | 3,315 |
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 Georgia
Georgia's healthcare costs run approximately 1% below national averages, reflecting the state's mix of competitive urban markets and more affordable rural provider networks. The concentration of major health systems in metro Atlanta creates different pricing dynamics than those found in smaller Georgia communities.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Metro Atlanta's dense concentration of imaging centers and hospital systems creates competitive pricing pressure, while rural counties across central and southern Georgia may have limited Lower Back MRI options. This geographic disparity can require some patients to travel significant distances for specialized imaging services. Rural providers often charge different rates than their urban counterparts due to lower overhead costs but higher per-patient operational expenses.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned outpatient imaging centers in Georgia typically carry higher overhead costs than independent radiology practices, often reflected in their pricing structures. Major health systems like Emory Healthcare, Piedmont Healthcare, and Augusta University Health influence market rates across their service areas. Free-standing imaging centers frequently offer more competitive cash-pay rates due to lower facility costs.
Insurance Market Competition in Georgia
Georgia's insurance market features robust competition between Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, and Cigna, creating varied negotiated rate structures across different provider networks. The state's decision not to expand Medicaid has concentrated more patients in commercial insurance plans, affecting how providers price their services. Regional market competition varies significantly, with metro Atlanta showing more insurer options than rural Georgia counties.
Physician Supply and Demand in Georgia
With nearly 3,000 active Lower Back MRI providers across Georgia, the state maintains relatively good access to imaging services compared to national averages. This substantial provider network helps moderate pricing through competition, though distribution remains uneven between urban and rural areas. Wait times for non-urgent Lower Back MRI studies typically remain reasonable due to adequate provider capacity in most markets.
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 Georgia
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Georgia without insurance?
Does Georgia Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Georgia?
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 Georgia?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Georgia?
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 |