MRI of the knee or other lower joint, no contrast in Bismarck, ND costs $1,621 to $2,738. Here's every hospital's price.
2 hospitals in the Bismarck, ND 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 Bismarck, ND metro area, 2 hospitals list a cash price for mri of the knee or other lower joint, no contrast (CPT 73721). The lowest is $1,621 at Chi St Alexius Health, the median is $1,621 and the highest is $2,738 at Sanford Medical Center Bismarck.
The Bismarck, ND median of $1,621 is 11% above the national median of $1,457 across 1331 US hospitals with a cash price for this code.
2 of these hospitals also publish the rates they negotiated with insurers, from $208 to $3,080. 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 February 2026 and March 2026.
Sorted by cash price
Hospital facility fee onlyBismarck · 11 mi · File Feb 2026
Bismarck · 11 mi · File Mar 2026
What's in the price
The hospital facility fee for CPT 73721. The doctor, anesthesia and lab work usually bill separately.
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.
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?