Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Maine
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Maine's rural geography and limited specialist concentration create unique challenges for Lower Back MRI access, with costs ranging from $115.79 to $658.95 across the state's 1,700 active providers. Patients typically pay between these amounts depending on their insurance coverage and chosen facility, with a median cost of $256.22 for imaging services. Maine residents can browse all available Lower Back MRI providers to compare costs and find the most affordable option in their region.
Average
$344
Median
$256
Lowest
$116
Highest
$659
Providers
1,700
10% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Maine?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $178 | $445 | $1,023 | 1,697 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $105 | $292 | $701 | 1,696 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $140 | $457 | $656 | 1,566 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $93 | $255 | $439 | 1,705 |
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 Maine
Maine's healthcare costs run approximately 12% above the national average, driven by the state's rural geography and limited provider competition in many regions. The concentration of advanced imaging services in Portland and Bangor creates access challenges for residents in more remote areas, often requiring travel that adds to the total cost of care.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Greater Portland accounts for the majority of Maine's Lower Back MRI capacity, while residents of Aroostook County or Down East regions may face drives of 100+ miles to reach imaging facilities. This geographic disparity creates higher effective costs for rural patients when factoring in travel time and expenses. Some rural hospitals have invested in mobile MRI units to serve outlying communities on a rotating schedule.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging departments at Maine Medical Center and Eastern Maine Medical Center typically charge premium rates compared to independent imaging centers due to higher operational overhead. Standalone facilities like those operated by RadNet or smaller regional groups can offer competitive pricing while maintaining quality standards. Academic medical centers may charge the highest rates but offer specialized expertise for complex spinal conditions.
Insurance Market Competition in Maine
The concentration of market share among Anthem, Harvard Pilgrim, and UnitedHealthcare limits competitive pressure on negotiated rates with imaging providers. Maine's small population and rural geography make it challenging for new insurers to enter the market and create meaningful competition. This relative lack of competition contributes to the state's above-average healthcare costs compared to more competitive markets.
Physician Supply and Demand in Maine
With 1,700 active Lower Back MRI providers serving a population of 1.4 million, Maine has relatively good imaging access compared to national averages. However, this number includes technologists and support staff, with actual radiologists concentrated in urban areas creating potential bottlenecks for rural patients. The adequate supply helps keep wait times reasonable but doesn't significantly pressure pricing due to limited insurer competition.
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 Maine
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Maine without insurance?
Does Maine Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Maine?
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 Maine?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Maine?
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 |