Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Utah
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Utah maintains one of the lowest healthcare cost burdens in the mountain west region, with Lower Back MRI visits averaging approximately 2% below national rates. Patients typically pay between $64.73 and $603.26, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $225.26 across 353 active providers statewide. The state's competitive insurance market, anchored by SelectHealth and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Utah, helps keep negotiated rates reasonable for patients browsing all Lower Back MRI providers in Utah.
Average
$298
Median
$225
Lowest
$65
Highest
$603
Providers
353
22% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Utah?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $94 | $391 | $1,045 | 349 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $59 | $257 | $504 | 354 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $79 | $294 | $552 | 446 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $54 | $207 | $374 | 419 |
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 Utah
Utah's healthcare costs run approximately 2% below national averages, benefiting from regional competition between established health systems and moderate cost of living compared to neighboring western states. The state's concentrated population along the Wasatch Front creates efficiency in provider networks while rural areas face different cost pressures.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
The Salt Lake City-Provo corridor contains most of Utah's Lower Back MRI specialists, creating competitive pricing and shorter wait times for urban patients. Rural counties often have limited imaging options, requiring patients to travel to regional centers like Logan or St. George for specialized care. This geographic disparity can add travel costs but may offer lower facility fees in smaller markets.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned outpatient clinics affiliated with Intermountain Healthcare and University of Utah Health typically charge higher facility fees compared to independent imaging centers. Freestanding radiology practices often offer more competitive self-pay rates and flexible scheduling options. The overhead difference between academic medical centers and community practices directly impacts patient costs across Utah's diverse healthcare landscape.
Insurance Market Competition in Utah
SelectHealth, BCBS UT, and UHC compete for market share alongside smaller regional carriers, creating moderate negotiating leverage with Lower Back MRI providers. The state's relatively concentrated insurer market allows for standardized contracting but may limit dramatic price variations between carriers. This competitive balance helps keep negotiated rates reasonable while maintaining provider network stability.
Physician Supply and Demand in Utah
With 353 active Lower Back MRI providers serving Utah's 3.3 million residents, the state maintains adequate specialist availability in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This supply distribution creates cost advantages for patients near major metropolitan areas while potentially increasing prices in underserved counties. Wait times and pricing flexibility often correlate directly with local provider density across different Utah 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 Utah
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Utah without insurance?
Does Utah Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Utah?
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 Utah?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Utah?
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 |