Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Missouri
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Missouri's healthcare market operates approximately 5% below national cost averages, with over 5,200 providers offering Lower Back MRI services across the state's diverse urban and rural landscapes. Based on negotiated insurance rates, patients typically pay between $76 and $415 for a Lower Back MRI visit, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $162. The Show-Me State's moderate insurance competition among major carriers like Anthem, UHC, and Cigna helps maintain accessible pricing for patients browsing providers throughout Missouri.
Average
$218
Median
$162
Lowest
$76
Highest
$415
Providers
5,288
43% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Missouri?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $115 | $284 | $628 | 5,338 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $69 | $183 | $461 | 5,342 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $89 | $261 | $385 | 5,463 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $64 | $148 | $265 | 5,432 |
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 Missouri
Missouri's healthcare costs run approximately 5% below national averages, influenced by the state's mix of major metropolitan areas and extensive rural regions. The absence of Medicaid expansion creates unique market dynamics where many adults rely on emergency care or seek services in neighboring states.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
St. Louis and Kansas City metro areas concentrate most specialist providers, while rural Missouri counties often have limited imaging options. Patients in the Ozarks or northern Missouri frequently travel 50+ miles for specialized MRI services, though telemedicine consultations are increasingly bridging consultation gaps.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Major health systems like BJC HealthCare in St. Louis and University of Kansas Health System serve Missouri markets with hospital-based imaging centers that typically charge premium rates. Independent radiology groups and freestanding imaging centers often provide more competitive pricing due to lower overhead expenses.
Insurance Market Competition in Missouri
Anthem dominates Missouri's individual insurance market, while UHC and Cigna maintain strong employer-sponsored plan presence. This moderate competition level helps maintain reasonable negotiated rates compared to states with single-payer dominance or excessive market fragmentation.
Physician Supply and Demand in Missouri
With over 5,200 providers offering Lower Back MRI services, Missouri maintains adequate specialist availability relative to its population of 6.2 million residents. This healthy supply-demand balance helps prevent excessive pricing premiums while maintaining reasonable appointment availability in most regions.
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 Missouri
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Missouri without insurance?
Does Missouri Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Missouri?
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 Missouri?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Missouri?
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 |