Scans and imaging CPT 70551 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

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

In Pittsburgh, PA, 14 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the brain, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $646.80 to $6,214.20, with a median of $1,975.52. The lowest listed price is at Highlands Hospital.

Cash prices at 14 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 Mar 6, 2026 and Apr 14, 2026.

Lowest$646.80Highlands Hospital
Median$1,975.52half pay less
Highest$6,214.20in this market
Difference9.6×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 Pittsburgh, PA.

median
Lowest $646.80Highest $6,214.20

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceOff listFile date
Highlands Hospital lowest Connellsville, PA MRI BRAIN WO $646.80 $1,078.00 40%
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Monogahela Valley Hospital Monongahela, PA MRI BRAIN/IAC W/O CONT $987.00 $1,645.00 40%
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Monogahela Valley Hospital Monongahela, PA MRI BRAIN & PITUITARY W/O $987.00 $1,645.00 40%
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UPMC Washington Washington, PA MRI BRAIN WO STROKE PROTOCOL $1,332.36 $2,220.60 40%
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UPMC Washington Washington, PA MRI BRAIN/HEAD W/O CONTRAST $1,332.36 $2,220.60 40%
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UPMC Washington Washington, PA MRI IAC'S W/O CONTRAST $1,445.58 $2,409.30 40%
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UPMC Washington Washington, PA MRI PITUITARY W/O $1,445.58 $2,409.30 40%
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Monogahela Valley Hospital Monongahela, PA MRI BRAIN $1,755.60 $2,926.00 40%
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Highlands Hospital Connellsville, PA MRI BRAIN WO/CONTRAST $1,755.60 $2,926.00 40%
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UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA MR BRAIN WO CON $1,911.60 $3,186.00 40%
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West Penn Allegheny Health System INC Wexford, PA HC MRI BRAIN WO CNTRST $2,039.44 $2,756.00 26% Apr 14, 2026
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Jefferson Regional Medical Center Jefferson Hills, PA HC MRI BRAIN WO CNTRST $2,232.36 $2,756.00 19% Apr 14, 2026
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UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA MR BRAIN WO CON $3,091.80 $5,153.00 40% Mar 6, 2026
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UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA MR BRAIN WO CON $3,682.80 $6,138.00 40%
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UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA HC MR BRAIN WO CON $3,801.60 $6,336.00 40%
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UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA MR BRAIN WO CON $3,834.60 $6,391.00 40%
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UPMC East Monroeville, PA MR BRAIN WO CON $3,940.80 $6,568.00 40%
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UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA MR BRAIN WO CON $4,125.00 $6,875.00 40%
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UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA HC MR BRAIN WO CON $4,272.00 $7,120.00 40%
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UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA MR BRAIN WO CON $6,214.20 $10,357.00 40% Mar 6, 2026
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Inpatient: lowest $646.80, median $1,975.52, highest $6,214.20 — a 9.6× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 15 facilities here, median $1,833.60 — 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.