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PricedCare

MRI of the knee or other lower joint, no contrast in St. Louis, MO-IL costs $413 to $3,449. Here's every hospital's price.

15 hospitals in the St. Louis, MO-IL 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 St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, 15 hospitals list a cash price for mri of the knee or other lower joint, no contrast (CPT 73721). The lowest is $413 at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, the median is $1,695 and the highest is $3,449 at Hshs St Elizabeth's Hospital. The most expensive hospital lists 8.4 times the cheapest for the same code.

The St. Louis, MO-IL median of $1,695 is 20% above the national median of $1,409 across 481 US hospitals with a cash price for this code.

15 of these hospitals also publish the rates they negotiated with insurers, from $157 to $5,697. 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 March 2026 and June 2026. 20 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.

$413
lowest cash price in St. Louis, MO-IL
Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital · 4 mi
$1,282 below the median
$1,695
median cash price
15 hospitals
8.4×
highest ÷ lowest
same procedure, same metro
15/36
hospitals with a cash price
20 don't · see who

Sorted by cash price

Hospital facility fee only
1
Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital

Maryland Heights · 4 mi · File Apr 2026

$413
list $516 · lowest of 6 lines
2
Touchette Regional Hospital INC

Centreville · 17 mi · File Apr 2026

$887
list $1,431
3
Ssm St Joseph Hospital West

Lake Saint Louis · 24 mi · File Apr 2026

$1,316
list $2,392
4
Ssm Health Saint Louis University Hospital

Saint Louis · 10 mi · File Apr 2026

$1,344
list $2,444
5
Mercy Hospital Washington

Washington · 38 mi · File Jun 2026

$1,569
list $2,414 · lowest of 3 lines
6
Mercy Hospital Jefferson

Crystal City · 38 mi · File Jun 2026

$1,639
list $2,522 · lowest of 3 lines
7
Ssm St Joseph Health Center

Saint Charles · 8 mi · File Apr 2026

$1,695
list $3,082
8
Ssm St Clare Health Center

Fenton · 16 mi · File Apr 2026

$1,695
list $3,082
9
Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital - St Louis

Saint Louis · 8 mi · File Apr 2026

$1,695
list $3,082
10
Ssm Health Depaul Hospital St Louis

Bridgeton · 5 mi · File Apr 2026

$1,695
list $3,082
11
Mercy Hospital Lincoln

Troy · 38 mi · File Jun 2026

$1,892
list $2,911 · lowest of 3 lines
12
Shriners Hospitals for Children

Saint Louis · 9 mi · File Mar 2026

$1,936
list $1,936
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 St. Louis, MO-IL 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