Cost of a Lower Back MRI Visit
in Virginia
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Virginia's healthcare market operates roughly 3% above national cost averages, with Medicaid expansion providing broader coverage access across the Commonwealth's diverse urban and rural regions. Lower Back MRI patients typically pay between $49 and $553, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $157 across Virginia's 3,167 active providers. Virginia maintains a substantial network of Lower Back MRI specialists, allowing patients to browse all providers throughout the state for optimal cost and convenience comparisons.
Average
$253
Median
$157
Lowest
$49
Highest
$553
Providers
3,167
34% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does mri lumbar spine compare to related procedures in Virginia?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $76 | $265 | $970 | 3,183 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $45 | $172 | $569 | 3,190 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $60 | $214 | $514 | 2,957 |
| CT Chest CT scan of the chest with contrast | 71260 | $41 | $134 | $371 | 2,895 |
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 Virginia
Virginia's healthcare costs run approximately 3% above national averages, driven by the state's proximity to high-cost Washington DC metro markets while maintaining more affordable rural regions throughout Appalachian and Southside counties. The Commonwealth's unique geographic position creates distinct cost corridors, with Northern Virginia imaging centers charging premium rates while rural facilities offer more competitive pricing structures.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Virginia's Lower Back MRI providers concentrate heavily in metropolitan areas like Richmond, Norfolk, and Northern Virginia, creating longer travel distances and higher costs for patients in rural Appalachian counties and the Northern Neck region. Urban imaging centers benefit from higher patient volumes and can offer extended hours and advanced MRI technology, while rural facilities may have limited scheduling availability but often provide more personalized service. The state's mountainous western regions and rural eastern counties face particular challenges accessing specialized imaging services locally.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging centers in Virginia typically charge higher facility fees due to increased overhead costs and regulatory requirements, particularly at major health systems like VCU Health, Sentara, and Inova. Independent imaging centers and outpatient facilities often provide the same quality MRI services at lower costs, benefiting from streamlined operations and lower administrative expenses. Virginia's growing network of ambulatory surgery centers and standalone imaging facilities increases competition and provides cost alternatives to traditional hospital-based services.
Insurance Market Competition in Virginia
Virginia's insurance market features moderate competition with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield holding significant market share alongside regional players like Optima Health and national insurers including UnitedHealthCare and Aetna. This competitive landscape helps negotiate reasonable rates for Lower Back MRI services, though Northern Virginia's proximity to Washington DC creates upward pricing pressure from higher regional cost expectations. The state's Medicaid expansion has increased insurer participation in lower-income markets, providing more coverage options for diagnostic imaging services.
Physician Supply and Demand in Virginia
With 3,167 active Lower Back MRI providers, Virginia maintains adequate radiologist supply relative to its population, though distribution favors urban areas over rural counties where recruitment remains challenging. This substantial provider network indicates healthy market competition that can help moderate pricing, particularly in metropolitan areas where patients have multiple facility options. Rural regions may experience longer wait times and limited weekend availability, but generally maintain reasonable access to diagnostic imaging services within acceptable travel distances.
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 Virginia
What is the average cost of a Lower Back MRI visit in Virginia without insurance?
Does Virginia Medicaid cover Lower Back MRI visits?
How do I find an affordable Lower Back MRI near me in Virginia?
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 Virginia?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Lower Back MRI in Virginia?
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 |