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PricedCare

MRI of the knee or other lower joint, no contrast in Austin, TX costs $652 to $2,257. Here's every hospital's price.

12 hospitals in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area publish a cash price for mri of the knee or other lower joint, no contrast (CPT 73721). We read their files every month so you don't have to.

Across the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area, 12 hospitals list a cash price for mri of the knee or other lower joint, no contrast (CPT 73721). The lowest is $652 at Ascension Seton Hays, the median is $728 and the highest is $2,257 at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center- Austin. The most expensive hospital lists 3.5 times the cheapest for the same code.

The Austin, TX median of $728 is 48% below the national median of $1,409 across 481 US hospitals with a cash price for this code.

14 of these hospitals also publish the rates they negotiated with insurers, from $176 to $3,386. With insurance you pay a share of the negotiated rate, which is sometimes higher than the cash price; you may ask for the cash price instead.

The files behind these prices are dated between January 2026 and June 2026. 10 other hospitals in the metro area have no readable price for this code: some publish no file, some block automated reading, some leave the code out. They are listed below so you can call them.

$652
lowest cash price in Austin, TX
Ascension Seton Hays · 21 mi
$76 below the median
$728
median cash price
12 hospitals
3.5×
highest ÷ lowest
same procedure, same metro
12/24
hospitals with a cash price
10 don't · see who

Sorted by cash price

Hospital facility fee only
1
Ascension Seton Hays

Kyle · 21 mi · File Jan 2026

$652
list $1,811 · lowest of 16 lines
2
Ascension Seton Smithville

Smithville · 35 mi · File Jan 2026

$652
list $1,811 · lowest of 16 lines
3
Ascension Seton Edgar B Davis

Luling · 40 mi · File Jan 2026

$712
list $1,977 · lowest of 8 lines
4
Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin

Austin · 7 mi · File Jan 2026

$728
list $2,023 · lowest of 8 lines
5
Ascension Seton Southwest

Austin · 14 mi · File Jan 2026

$728
list $2,023 · lowest of 8 lines
6
Ascension Seton Northwest

Austin · 12 mi · File Jan 2026

$728
list $2,023 · lowest of 8 lines
7
Ascension Seton Cedar Park

Cedar Park · 22 mi · File Jan 2026

$2,198
list $6,106 · lowest of 2 lines
8
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center -Taylor

Taylor · 28 mi · File Jun 2026

$2,257
list $3,762 · lowest of 2 lines
9
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Round Rock

Round Rock · 22 mi · File Jun 2026

$2,257
list $3,762 · lowest of 14 lines
10
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Pflugerville

Pflugerville · 14 mi · File Jun 2026

$2,257
list $3,762 · lowest of 2 lines
11
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Buda

Buda · 16 mi · File Jun 2026

$2,257
list $3,762 · lowest of 14 lines
12
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center- Austin

Austin · 11 mi · File Jun 2026

$2,257
list $3,762 · lowest of 22 lines
1

What's in the price

The hospital facility fee for CPT 73721. The doctor, anesthesia and lab work usually bill separately.

2

Cash vs. insured

Cash is what you pay without insurance. With insurance you pay a share of the negotiated rate, which can be higher than cash. You may ask for the cash price.

3

What to say on the phone

"I'd like the self-pay price for CPT 73721, in writing, and whether it covers facility, physician and anesthesia."

About mri of the knee or other lower joint, no contrast

CPT 73721 is an MRI of a joint in the lower limb, most often the knee, without contrast. It shows ligaments, meniscus and cartilage and is the standard test after a twisting injury or for persistent joint pain. It takes 20 to 40 minutes.

What the price covers

The hospital's price is the technical fee: scanner, technologist and room. The radiologist's reading is billed separately. The same code covers hip and ankle MRIs, so the price applies to those too.

Why prices vary

Knee MRIs are heavily shopped because they are common, elective and easy to compare. Within one metro area hospital prices commonly span four to eight times. Hospital-owned outpatient imaging centers and freestanding centers are the low end; teaching hospitals the high end. Orthopedic practices often have arrangements with a specific imaging center; you can still choose another.

Questions to ask

  • What is the self-pay price for 73721, scan only?
  • What is the radiologist's fee, and can my orthopedist read it instead?
  • Is the scanner strength (1.5T or 3T) the same at your cheaper location?

Hospitals in Austin, TX without a price for this procedure

Listed so you know who to call. The reason is what we found on their website.

Questions people ask