Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Pennsylvania
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Pennsylvania's healthcare landscape, dominated by major health systems in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, creates significant price variation for medical imaging across the state's 67 counties. Lower Back MRI patients typically pay between $55 and $527, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $132 based on negotiated insurance rates. Pennsylvania has 1,641 active Lower Back MRI providers, giving patients substantial choice when browsing all providers in Pennsylvania.
Average
$238
Median
$132
Lowest
$55
Highest
$527
Providers
1,641
38% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Pennsylvania?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $57 | $215 | $879 | 1,970 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $55 | $134 | $506 | 1,965 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $76 | $215 | $753 | 1,669 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $50 | $115 | $389 | 2,029 |
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 Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's healthcare costs run approximately 9% above the national average, driven by high provider concentration in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metropolitan areas. The state's mix of major academic medical centers, regional health systems, and independent practices creates a complex pricing landscape for diagnostic imaging services.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Pennsylvania's geography creates stark contrasts between provider-rich areas like southeastern Pennsylvania and underserved rural counties in the northern and central regions. Urban markets around Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg offer multiple imaging options within short distances, while rural patients may travel over an hour to access Lower Back MRI services. This geographic disparity affects both pricing and scheduling availability across the state.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging departments in Pennsylvania typically charge higher facility fees than independent radiology centers due to higher overhead costs and regulatory requirements. Major health systems like UPMC, Penn Medicine, and Jefferson Health operate extensive imaging networks with premium pricing, while independent centers often offer more competitive rates. Academic medical centers command the highest prices but may provide specialized expertise for complex cases.
Insurance Market Competition in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's insurance landscape is dominated by Highmark, Independence Blue Cross, and United Healthcare, with regional variation in market share affecting negotiated rates. The competitive dynamic between Highmark and Independence BCBS has led to aggressive contract negotiations with providers, sometimes resulting in network disruptions. This insurer competition generally benefits consumers through competitive pricing, though network adequacy can vary by geographic region.
Physician Supply and Demand in Pennsylvania
With 1,641 active Lower Back MRI providers, Pennsylvania maintains adequate radiologist supply relative to its population, particularly in metropolitan areas. This robust provider network creates competitive pressure on pricing and typically results in reasonable scheduling availability for non-urgent studies. Rural areas still face radiologist shortages, which can drive up costs and extend wait times for patients outside major metropolitan markets.
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 Pennsylvania
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Pennsylvania without insurance?
Does Pennsylvania Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Pennsylvania?
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 |