Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in New Mexico
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
New Mexico's high rate of work-related back injuries in mining and agriculture creates significant demand for Lower Back MRI services across the state's diverse landscape. Patients typically pay between $62 and $720 for Lower Back MRI imaging, with a median cost of $188 based on negotiated insurance rates. New Mexico has over 1,200 active Lower Back MRI providers serving communities from Albuquerque's metropolitan area to rural counties, allowing patients to browse all available providers throughout the state.
Average
$323
Median
$188
Lowest
$62
Highest
$720
Providers
1,236
16% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in New Mexico?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $98 | $315 | $1,063 | 1,235 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $57 | $198 | $588 | 1,220 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $75 | $230 | $801 | 1,315 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $52 | $169 | $505 | 1,300 |
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 New Mexico
New Mexico's Lower Back MRI costs run approximately 31% below national averages, reflecting the state's lower overall healthcare costs and rural market dynamics. The vast geographic distances between population centers create unique access challenges that influence both pricing and availability patterns.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Albuquerque and Santa Fe concentrate most of New Mexico's advanced imaging facilities, while rural counties often require patients to travel 100+ miles for Lower Back MRI services. This geographic disparity creates higher effective costs for rural residents due to travel expenses and lost wages. Limited rural competition allows facilities in remote areas to maintain higher prices despite lower overhead costs.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Presbyterian Healthcare Services and University of New Mexico Hospital dominate the state's hospital-based imaging market, typically charging higher facility fees than independent centers. Freestanding imaging centers in strip malls or medical office buildings operate with lower overhead and often offer more competitive pricing. The state's relatively small population limits the number of independent facilities that can operate profitably.
Insurance Market Competition in New Mexico
BCBS NM holds significant market share statewide, while UHC and Molina compete primarily in urban areas and Medicaid managed care respectively. This concentrated market gives major insurers substantial negotiating power with providers, helping keep rates below national averages. Rural areas often have limited insurer choices, reducing competitive pressure on negotiated rates.
Physician Supply and Demand in New Mexico
With over 1,200 active Lower Back MRI providers serving roughly 2.1 million residents, New Mexico maintains adequate imaging capacity in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. The state's medical workforce challenges, including physician recruitment and retention issues, can create bottlenecks that affect both pricing and scheduling availability. Radiology groups often cover multiple facilities across large geographic areas to maintain service access.
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 New Mexico
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in New Mexico without insurance?
Does New Mexico Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in New Mexico?
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 New Mexico?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in New Mexico?
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 |