Scans and imaging CPT 70551 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

MRI of the brain, no contrast dye in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC — inpatient

In Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, 10 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the brain, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $1,250.91 to $6,333.75, with a median of $3,147.00. The lowest listed price is at DUKE HEALTH LAKE NORMAN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC. Doing Business As: DUKE HEALTH LAKE NORMAN HOSPITAL.

Cash prices at 10 facilities across 9 cities for code 70551, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Dec 5, 2025 and Sep 1, 2026.

Lowest$1,250.91DUKE HEALTH LAKE NORMAN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC. Doing Business As: DUKE HEALTH LAKE NORMAN HOSPITAL
Median$3,147.00half pay less
Highest$6,333.75in this market
Difference5.1×highest vs lowest

Where each hospital's price falls

Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC.

median
Lowest $1,250.91Highest $6,333.75

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceOff listFile date
DUKE HEALTH LAKE NORMAN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC. Doing Business As: DUKE HEALTH LAKE NORMAN HOSPITAL lowest Mooresville, NC MRI Brain WO Cntrst $1,250.91 $4,633.00 73%
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DUKE HEALTH LAKE NORMAN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC. Doing Business As: DUKE HEALTH LAKE NORMAN HOSPITAL Mooresville, NC MRI Brain WO Cntrst $1,250.91 $4,633.00 73%
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Carolinas Rehabilitation Belmont, NC HC MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST $1,765.28 $3,530.55 50% Dec 5, 2025
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Carolinas Rehabilitation Charlotte, NC HC MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST $1,765.28 $3,530.55 50% Dec 5, 2025
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MUSC Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster, SC HB MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST $3,009.50 $6,019.00 50% Apr 1, 2026
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MUSC Chester Regional Medical Center Chester, SC HB MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST $3,147.00 $6,294.00 50% Apr 1, 2026
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Gaston Memorial Hospital Belmont, NC HCHG MRI BRAIN WO CONT $3,449.00 $3,449.00 May 11, 2026
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Gaston Memorial Hospital Mount Holly, NC HCHG MRI BRAIN WO CONT $3,449.00 $3,449.00 May 11, 2026
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Gaston Memorial Hospital Gastonia, NC HCHG MRI BRAIN WO CONT $3,449.00 $3,449.00 May 11, 2026
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Amisub of South Carolina, Inc. Fort Mill, SC MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST $6,333.75 $8,445.00 25% Apr 15, 2026
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Amisub of South Carolina, Inc. Rock Hill, SC MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST $6,333.75 $8,445.00 25% Sep 1, 2026
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Inpatient: lowest $1,250.91, median $3,147.00, highest $6,333.75 — a 5.1× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 10 facilities here, median $3,078.25 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.

What it is

An MRI of the brain uses a strong magnet and radio waves, not X-rays, to make detailed pictures of the brain and brain stem. It is used to look into headaches, seizures, dizziness, numbness or other nerve symptoms. This version is done without contrast dye.

What the price covers

The hospital price usually covers the scan itself. The radiologist's interpretation is often billed separately, and sedation, if needed, is extra.