MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine), no contrast in Madison, WI costs $629 to $2,507. Here's every hospital's price.
4 hospitals in the Madison, WI metro area publish a cash price for mri of the lower back (lumbar spine), no contrast (CPT 72148). We read their files every month so you don't have to.
Across the Madison, WI metro area, 4 hospitals list a cash price for mri of the lower back (lumbar spine), no contrast (CPT 72148). The lowest is $629 at Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital, the median is $2,119 and the highest is $2,507 at Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital - Madison. The most expensive hospital lists 4.0 times the cheapest for the same code.
The Madison, WI median of $2,119 is 40% above the national median of $1,514 across 1337 US hospitals with a cash price for this code.
4 of these hospitals also publish the rates they negotiated with insurers, from $52 to $4,366. 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 April 2026. 4 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.
Sorted by cash price
Hospital facility fee onlyPortage · 34 mi · File Apr 2026
Madison · 10 mi · File Jan 2026
Madison · 9 mi · File Apr 2026
Madison · 10 mi · File Apr 2026
What's in the price
The hospital facility fee for CPT 72148. 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 72148, in writing, and whether it covers facility, physician and anesthesia."
About mri of the lower back (lumbar spine), no contrast
CPT 72148 is an MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast. It is the standard imaging test for sciatica, suspected disc herniation and lower-back pain that has not improved after several weeks. It takes 20 to 40 minutes.
What the price covers
The hospital's price is the technical fee: scanner, technologist, room. The radiologist's reading is billed separately. Contrast studies use a different code.
Do you need it?
Most guidelines advise against MRI for uncomplicated back pain in the first six weeks, because the findings rarely change treatment. If your doctor orders one early, it is reasonable to ask why. When it is needed, it is worth shopping: the same scan varies several times in price within one city.
Why prices vary
Hospital main campuses list the highest prices; hospital-owned outpatient imaging centers list lower; freestanding imaging centers, which are not in these files, are often the cheapest. Cash prices at hospitals frequently undercut the negotiated insurance rate.
Questions to ask
- What is the self-pay price for 72148, scan only?
- What does the radiologist charge for the reading?
- Is the same scanner quality available at your outpatient site for less?
Hospitals in Madison, WI without a price for this procedure
Listed so you know who to call. The reason is what we found on their website.
- Columbus Community HospitalNo website on record
- Stoughton HospitalNo website on record
- The Monroe ClinicFile found, not read yet
- Upland Hills HealthNo website on record