Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Iowa
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Iowa's healthcare landscape features a mix of regional medical centers and rural clinics, with Lower Back MRI costs typically ranging from $85 to $513 across the state's 553 active providers. The median out-of-pocket cost for patients is $253, reflecting negotiated rates that average 7% below national benchmarks. Patients can browse all Lower Back MRI providers throughout Iowa to find the most cost-effective option for their specific insurance plan and geographic location.
Average
$284
Median
$253
Lowest
$85
Highest
$513
Providers
553
26% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Iowa?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $95 | $511 | $842 | 409 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $80 | $291 | $516 | 523 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $85 | $361 | $753 | 483 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $73 | $214 | $424 | 424 |
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 Iowa
Iowa's healthcare costs run approximately 9% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and competitive insurance market dynamics. The state's predominantly rural geography creates unique access patterns, with patients sometimes traveling significant distances to reach specialized imaging facilities.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City offer the highest concentration of Lower Back MRI providers, while rural counties may have limited options requiring longer travel times. Urban areas typically have more competition among facilities, which can help moderate pricing. Rural facilities may offer lower overhead costs but fewer scheduling options for patients.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned outpatient imaging centers in Iowa generally charge higher rates than independent radiology clinics due to facility fees and administrative overhead. Major health systems like UnityPoint Health and MercyOne operate imaging centers throughout the state with varying cost structures. Freestanding imaging centers often provide the most competitive pricing for routine MRI procedures.
Insurance Market Competition in Iowa
Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield maintains the largest market share in Iowa, followed by UnitedHealthcare and Aetna competing for commercial enrollment. This moderate level of competition helps maintain reasonable negotiated rates for imaging services compared to states with insurance monopolies. The presence of multiple insurers gives patients some leverage in choosing plans with better imaging benefits.
Physician Supply and Demand in Iowa
With 553 active Lower Back MRI providers serving Iowa's population of 3.2 million, the state maintains adequate radiologist availability in most regions. This healthy supply-to-demand ratio helps prevent the pricing premiums seen in physician shortage areas. Urban centers have the shortest wait times, while rural areas may require scheduling flexibility to access timely imaging services.
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 Iowa
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Iowa without insurance?
Does Iowa Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Iowa?
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 Iowa?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Iowa?
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 |