What is the typical price for MRI of the Lumbar Spine, Without Contrast in Colorado?

Across 39 Colorado hospitals reporting a commercial negotiated rate for CPT 72148, the 25th-to-75th percentile band runs $595 to $2,689 per hospital median. The 50th-percentile (Colorado median) is $882.

Why is the price range for MRI of the Lumbar Spine, Without Contrast so wide?

Hospitals negotiate differently with different insurers, the procedure can be performed in different settings (hospital outpatient, ambulatory, inpatient), and in-network status varies plan-by-plan. The 4.5× spread between the 25th and 75th percentile in the data reflects those structural differences, not clinical ones.

What's the cash price for MRI of the Lumbar Spine, Without Contrast if I don't have insurance?

The median discounted cash price across reporting Colorado hospitals is $2,272. Hospitals are required to offer a self-pay rate that's often less than the gross "chargemaster" charge but typically more than the lowest negotiated rate — the per-hospital table on this page shows the full spread.

What does CPT 72148 mean?

CPT 72148 is the CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code for MRI of the Lumbar Spine, Without Contrast. It identifies the procedure for billing and price-disclosure purposes — every hospital's MRF reports rates against this code.

MRI of the Lumbar Spine, Without Contrast

CPT 7214839 Colorado hospitals reporting

MRI of the lower back to evaluate disc herniation, stenosis, and nerve compression — a frequent imaging study in adults with chronic back pain.

Typical insured price · Colorado

$595to$2,689

What hospitals actually accept from insurers, between the 25th and 75th percentile — half of negotiated rates fall in this window with a median of $882.

$595$2,689

Cash price (median)

$2,272

What you'd pay self-pay

Gross charge (median)

$6,062

The chargemaster sticker

vs Medicare

—

Coming with enrichment

Sourced from 39 Colorado hospitals publishing under 45 CFR §180.50.

At a glance

Code: CPT 72148
Code system: CPT (Current Procedural Terminology)
Typical setting: an outpatient setting
Hospitals reporting: 39

How they price MRI of the Lumbar Spine, Without Contrast

Across 39 Colorado hospitals that publish a commercial negotiated rate for CPT 72148, the typical insured price for MRI of the Lumbar Spine, Without Contrast runs $595 to $2,689 (the 25th-to-75th percentile of per-hospital medians). The Colorado median is $882 — half of reporting hospitals are at or below that figure. The median discounted cash price across the same hospitals is $2,272, against a median gross charge of $6,062.

What affects the price

Structural and contractual factors that move the price for this code — not clinical reasons.

· Outpatient setting (hospital outpatient department, ambulatory surgery center, or office) is the single biggest non-clinical price driver — the same code in a hospital outpatient department often costs 2–4× the ambulatory-surgery-center rate.
· In-network vs out-of-network status — out-of-network claims rarely use the negotiated rates shown here.
· Contrast vs no-contrast vs combined — different CPT codes apply, and pricing typically rises 30–80% with contrast.
· Facility fee — many hospitals add a separate facility fee in addition to the procedure rate; ask explicitly when calling.
· Bundled vs unbundled billing — the rate may or may not include radiology read, anaesthesia, or pathology. Ask which professional services are included.

Where to get it

Sorted by median negotiated rate, low to high. The bar shows each hospital’s position in the Colorado range.

40 hospitals

Pin a plan

Plans named by their MRF label. Confirm in-network status with your insurer before scheduling.

Hospitals reporting rates for this procedure, ranked by median negotiated price.
Hospital	Position · Median	Negotiated band	Cash	Payers
Uchealth Estes Valley Medical Center Estes Park Gross charge $260 Median negotiated $247 25th–75th $183 – $252 Cash $195 Payers 15	$247	$183 – $252	$195	15
Community Hospital Grand Junction Gross charge $950 Median negotiated $250 25th–75th $138 – $276 Cash $532 Payers 7	$250	$138 – $276	$532	7
Boulder Community Health Foothills Hospital Gross charge $5,085 Median negotiated $332 25th–75th $156 – $923 Cash $2,543 Payers 31	$332	$156 – $923	$2,543	31
Family Health West Hospital Fruita Median negotiated $382 25th–75th $382 – $599 Cash — Payers 1	$382	$382 – $599	—	1
Valley View Hospital Glenwood Springs Gross charge $885 Median negotiated $465 25th–75th $268 – $942 Cash $752 Payers 3	$465	$268 – $942	$752	3
Commonspirit St Francis Hospital Interquest Gross charge $6,692 Median negotiated $518 25th–75th $124 – $815 Cash $2,677 Payers 14	$518	$124 – $815	$2,677	14
Commonspirit St Francis Hospital Gross charge $6,692 Median negotiated $543 25th–75th $124 – $815 Cash $2,677 Payers 15	$543	$124 – $815	$2,677	15
Commonspirit Longmont United Hospital Gross charge $6,692 Median negotiated $544 25th–75th $127 – $1,834 Cash $2,677 Payers 15	$544	$127 – $1,834	$2,677	15
Commonspirit Orthocolorado Hospital Gross charge $6,692 Median negotiated $544 25th–75th $198 – $815 Cash $2,677 Payers 15	$544	$198 – $815	$2,677	15
Lincoln Community Hospital Hugo Gross charge $2,812 Median negotiated $585 25th–75th $585 – $585 Cash $2,812 Payers 14	$585	$585 – $585	$2,812	14
Commonspirit St Anthony North Hospital Gross charge $6,692 Median negotiated $605 25th–75th $411 – $1,765 Cash $2,677 Payers 16	$605	$411 – $1,765	$2,677	16
Commonspirit St Anthony Hospital Lakewood Gross charge $6,692 Median negotiated $617 25th–75th $511 – $1,816 Cash $2,677 Payers 14	$617	$511 – $1,816	$2,677	14
Uchealth Memorial Hospital Central Colorado Springs Gross charge $3,482 Median negotiated $775 25th–75th $500 – $1,334 Cash $1,567 Payers 14	$775	$500 – $1,334	$1,567	14
Uchealth Memorial Hospital North Colorado Springs Gross charge $3,482 Median negotiated $775 25th–75th $500 – $1,334 Cash $1,567 Payers 14	$775	$500 – $1,334	$1,567	14
National Jewish Health Denver Gross charge $1,972 Median negotiated $800 25th–75th $368 – $1,479 Cash $1,380 Payers 8	$800	$368 – $1,479	$1,380	8
Uchealth Greeley Hospital Gross charge $3,081 Median negotiated $800 25th–75th $485 – $1,787 Cash $1,849 Payers 12	$800	$485 – $1,787	$1,849	12
Uchealth Highlands Ranch Hospital Gross charge $6,490 Median negotiated $806 25th–75th $512 – $2,569 Cash $1,947 Payers 12	$806	$512 – $2,569	$1,947	12
Uchealth Grandview Hospital Colorado Springs Gross charge $6,490 Median negotiated $810 25th–75th $454 – $2,329 Cash $2,272 Payers 13	$810	$454 – $2,329	$2,272	13
Commonspirit St Mary Corwin Hospital Pueblo Gross charge $6,062 Median negotiated $815 25th–75th $124 – $2,684 Cash $2,425 Payers 14	$815	$124 – $2,684	$2,425	14
Uchealth Yampa Valley Medical Center Steamboat Springs Gross charge $1,045 Median negotiated $882 25th–75th $627 – $1,014 Cash $941 Payers 12	$882	$627 – $1,014	$941	12
Uchealth Longs Peak Hospital Longmont Gross charge $6,490 Median negotiated $891 25th–75th $485 – $2,417 Cash $2,272 Payers 14	$891	$485 – $2,417	$2,272	14
Grand River Health Rifle Gross charge $3,126 Median negotiated $903 25th–75th $903 – $903 Cash $1,563 Payers 1	$903	$903 – $903	$1,563	1
Uchealth Parkview Medical Center Pueblo Gross charge $5,214 Median negotiated $1,098 25th–75th $609 – $1,589 Cash $2,086 Payers 12	$1,098	$609 – $1,589	$2,086	12
Pikes Peak Regional Hospital Woodland Park Gross charge $2,446 Median negotiated $1,120 25th–75th $816 – $1,951 Cash $1,957 Payers 12	$1,120	$816 – $1,951	$1,957	12
Uchealth University of Colorado Hospital Aurora Gross charge $7,362 Median negotiated $1,222 25th–75th $594 – $3,699 Cash $2,577 Payers 15	$1,222	$594 – $3,699	$2,577	15
Uchealth Medical Center of the Rockies Loveland Gross charge $3,081 Median negotiated $1,232 25th–75th $488 – $2,395 Cash $2,157 Payers 16	$1,232	$488 – $2,395	$2,157	16
Uchealth Poudre Valley Hospital Fort Collins Gross charge $3,081 Median negotiated $1,232 25th–75th $491 – $2,395 Cash $2,157 Payers 16	$1,232	$491 – $2,395	$2,157	16
Denver Health Medical Center Gross charge $4,189 Median negotiated $1,305 25th–75th $410 – $1,437 Cash $1,466 Payers 7	$1,305	$410 – $1,437	$1,466	7
Commonspirit St Thomas More Hospital Ca on City Gross charge $3,539 Median negotiated $2,605 25th–75th $560 – $3,017 Cash $1,416 Payers 14	$2,605	$560 – $3,017	$1,416	14
Children S Hospital Colorado Colorado Springs Gross charge $4,267 Median negotiated $2,774 25th–75th $2,347 – $3,115 Cash $2,774 Payers 33	$2,774	$2,347 – $3,115	$2,774	33
Commonspirit Mercy Hospital Durango Gross charge $6,829 Median negotiated $2,968 25th–75th $480 – $5,599 Cash $2,731 Payers 16	$2,968	$480 – $5,599	$2,731	16
Commonspirit St Anthony Summit Medical Center Gross charge $6,175 Median negotiated $3,643 25th–75th $697 – $5,171 Cash $2,470 Payers 14	$3,643	$697 – $5,171	$2,470	14
Commonspirit St Elizabeth Hospital Fort Morgan Gross charge $6,679 Median negotiated $5,190 25th–75th $543 – $6,278 Cash $2,672 Payers 12	$5,190	$543 – $6,278	$2,672	12
Hca Healthone Mountain Ridge Thornton Gross charge $13,602 Median negotiated $5,923 25th–75th $2,571 – $8,706 Cash $13,602 Payers 15	$5,923	$2,571 – $8,706	$13,602	15
Hca Healthone Aurora Medical Center of Aurora Gross charge $10,109 Median negotiated $6,470 25th–75th $4,246 – $7,076 Cash $10,109 Payers 13	$6,470	$4,246 – $7,076	$10,109	13
Hca Healthone Presbyterian St Luke S Medical Center Gross charge $13,494 Median negotiated $7,759 25th–75th $3,633 – $9,446 Cash $13,494 Payers 15	$7,759	$3,633 – $9,446	$13,494	15
Hca Healthone Rose Medical Center Gross charge $12,233 Median negotiated $8,563 25th–75th $4,775 – $9,613 Cash $12,233 Payers 14	$8,563	$4,775 – $9,613	$12,233	14
Hca Healthone Swedish Medical Center Gross charge $17,197 Median negotiated $11,006 25th–75th $7,567 – $12,382 Cash $17,197 Payers 13	$11,006	$7,567 – $12,382	$17,197	13
Hca Healthone Sky Ridge Medical Center Gross charge $19,472 Median negotiated $12,462 25th–75th $3,228 – $13,631 Cash $19,472 Payers 12	$12,462	$3,228 – $13,631	$19,472	12
Prowers Medical Center Lamar Gross charge $3,051 Median negotiated — 25th–75th — Cash $1,831 Payers —	—	—	$1,831	—

Common questions

Short answers, derived from the data on this page. See the full FAQ for site-wide questions.

What is the typical price for MRI of the Lumbar Spine, Without Contrast in Colorado?: Across 39 Colorado hospitals reporting a commercial negotiated rate for CPT 72148, the 25th-to-75th percentile band runs $595 to $2,689 per hospital median. The 50th-percentile (Colorado median) is $882.
Why is the price range for MRI of the Lumbar Spine, Without Contrast so wide?: Hospitals negotiate differently with different insurers, the procedure can be performed in different settings (hospital outpatient, ambulatory, inpatient), and in-network status varies plan-by-plan. The 4.5× spread between the 25th and 75th percentile in the data reflects those structural differences, not clinical ones.
What's the cash price for MRI of the Lumbar Spine, Without Contrast if I don't have insurance?: The median discounted cash price across reporting Colorado hospitals is $2,272. Hospitals are required to offer a self-pay rate that's often less than the gross "chargemaster" charge but typically more than the lowest negotiated rate — the per-hospital table on this page shows the full spread.
What does CPT 72148 mean?: CPT 72148 is the CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code for MRI of the Lumbar Spine, Without Contrast. It identifies the procedure for billing and price-disclosure purposes — every hospital's MRF reports rates against this code.

Browse related collections

The same procedure shows up under several useful lenses. Each collection groups it with peers that get shopped together.