Scans and imaging CPT 70551 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

MRI of the brain, no contrast dye in Lancaster, PA — inpatient

In Lancaster, PA, 3 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the brain, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $175.80 to $1,741.80, with a median of $402.75. The lowest listed price is at UPMC Lititz.

Cash prices at 3 facilities across 3 cities for code 70551, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between — and —.

Lowest$175.80UPMC Lititz
Median$402.75half pay less
Highest$1,741.80in this market
Difference9.9×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 Lancaster, PA.

median
Lowest $175.80Highest $1,741.80

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceOff listFile date
UPMC Lititz lowest Lititz, PA HC MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST MD $175.80 $293.00 40%
source file
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster, PA 70551 MRI BRAIN STEM W/O DYE Tech $350.49 $1,209.00 71%
source file
Ephrata Community Hospital Ephrata, PA MRI Scan of Brain Without Contrast $455.00 $2,225.00 80%
source file
UPMC Lititz Lititz, PA HC MRI Brain W/O Contrast $1,741.80 $2,903.00 40%
source file

Inpatient: lowest $175.80, median $402.75, highest $1,741.80 — a 9.9× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 3 facilities here, median $402.75 — 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.