Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Massachusetts
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Massachusetts ranks among the top five states for healthcare spending per capita, with specialized imaging services like Lower Back MRI reflecting this premium market. Based on negotiated insurance rates from 1,481 active providers statewide, patients typically pay between $74 and $590 for lumbar spine imaging, with a median cost of $368. The Bay State's robust network of academic medical centers and community hospitals means patients have access to numerous Lower Back MRI specialists across urban and rural regions alike.
Average
$344
Median
$368
Lowest
$74
Highest
$590
Providers
1,481
10% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Massachusetts?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $90 | $552 | $1,060 | 1,770 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $70 | $327 | $590 | 1,753 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $80 | $299 | $896 | 1,427 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $64 | $171 | $454 | 1,801 |
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 Massachusetts
Massachusetts healthcare costs run approximately 20% above the national average, driven by the state's concentration of prestigious academic medical centers and high cost of living in the Greater Boston area. This premium pricing extends to diagnostic imaging, where Lower Back MRI rates reflect both advanced technology investments and higher operational costs.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Greater Boston hosts numerous high-end imaging facilities affiliated with world-renowned hospitals, while Western Massachusetts and Cape Cod rely more heavily on community hospitals and independent imaging centers. This geographic distribution creates cost disparities, with rural patients sometimes traveling to urban areas for specialized lumbar spine imaging despite higher prices.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging at Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Lahey, or other major health systems typically costs 50-80% more than independent imaging centers due to higher overhead and facility fees. Academic medical centers justify premium pricing through access to latest MRI technology and subspecialty radiologists, but many routine Lower Back MRI studies can be performed effectively at lower-cost community facilities.
Insurance Market Competition in Massachusetts
The state's insurance market is dominated by BCBS MA, Tufts Health Plan, and Harvard Pilgrim, creating a relatively concentrated marketplace where insurers have significant negotiating power with providers. This concentration can lead to favorable negotiated rates for common services like Lower Back MRI, though premium providers still command higher reimbursements.
Physician Supply and Demand in Massachusetts
With 1,481 active Lower Back MRI providers serving approximately 7 million residents, Massachusetts has above-average radiologist density compared to most states. This robust supply helps moderate pricing in competitive markets like Boston, though wait times for non-urgent imaging can still extend 1-2 weeks during peak demand periods.
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 Massachusetts
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Massachusetts without insurance?
Does Massachusetts Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Massachusetts?
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 |