Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Kansas
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Kansas ranks among states with lower healthcare costs, with Lower Back MRI services reflecting this regional advantage through competitive pricing structures. Patients typically pay between $71 and $502 for Lower Back MRI visits, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $159 based on negotiated insurance rates across 1,837 active providers throughout the state. Kansas maintains a robust network of Lower Back MRI specialists serving both metropolitan areas like Kansas City and Wichita, as well as rural communities, allowing patients to browse all providers statewide for the most suitable care options.
Average
$244
Median
$159
Lowest
$71
Highest
$502
Providers
1,837
36% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Kansas?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $107 | $279 | $818 | 1,840 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $65 | $179 | $504 | 1,844 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $89 | $245 | $399 | 1,786 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $59 | $149 | $324 | 1,893 |
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 Kansas
Kansas healthcare costs run approximately 7% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower cost of living and competitive provider market. The state's diverse geography creates distinct cost patterns between metropolitan areas like Kansas City and Topeka versus rural counties where provider access and overhead costs differ substantially.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Kansas's vast rural territories create significant access challenges, with specialist care concentrated in cities like Wichita, Kansas City, and Lawrence. Rural patients often travel considerable distances for Lower Back MRI services, potentially facing both higher travel costs and limited appointment availability compared to urban residents with multiple provider options.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient clinics typically charge higher facility fees than independent practices throughout Kansas, reflecting different operational cost structures and billing practices. Major health systems like The University of Kansas Health System and Ascension Via Christi operate across multiple locations, creating varying cost structures depending on the specific facility type and location.
Insurance Market Competition in Kansas
The insurance landscape features moderate competition with BCBS Kansas holding significant market share alongside UHC and Aetna, creating relatively stable negotiated rates across providers. Limited insurer options in rural areas can reduce competitive pressure on pricing, while metropolitan markets benefit from more robust competition that helps keep costs reasonable for patients.
Physician Supply and Demand in Kansas
With 1,837 active Lower Back MRI providers serving the state's population, Kansas maintains adequate specialist availability relative to national standards. This healthy provider supply helps maintain competitive pricing and reasonable appointment availability, though distribution favors urban areas over rural counties where specialist shortages persist.
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 Kansas
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Kansas without insurance?
Does Kansas Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Kansas?
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 Kansas?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Kansas?
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 |