Scans and imaging CPT 70551 Outpatient

MRI of the brain, no contrast dye in St. Louis, MO-IL

In St. Louis, MO-IL, 12 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the brain, no contrast dye: from $316.55 to $3,223.44, with a median of $2,015.88. The lowest listed price is at Mercy Hospitals East Communities dba Mercy Hospital St Louis.

Cash prices at 12 facilities across 10 cities for code 70551, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 24, 2026 and Apr 24, 2026.

Lowest$316.55Mercy Hospitals East Communities dba Mercy Hospital St Louis
Median$2,015.88half pay less
Highest$3,223.44in this market
Difference10.2×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 St. Louis, MO-IL.

median
Lowest $316.55Highest $3,223.44

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceOff listFile date
Mercy Hospitals East Communities dba Mercy Hospital St Louis lowest Saint Louis, MO MRI Brain WO for Tysabri Screen $316.55 $487.00 35%
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Mercy Hospital Lincoln Troy, MO MRI Brain WO for Tysabri Screen $323.05 $497.00 35%
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American Healthcare Systems Illinois LLC Granite City, IL MR-BRAIN WO $429.59 $715.99 40%
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Mercy Hospital South Saint Louis, MO MRI Brain WO Cont $1,265.55 $1,947.00 35%
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Mercy Hospitals East Communities dba Mercy Hospital Washington Washington, MO MRI Brain WO for Tysabri Screen $1,524.90 $2,346.00 35%
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Mercy Hospital Jefferson Festus, MO MRI Brain WO Cont $1,567.80 $2,412.00 35%
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Mercy Hospitals East Communities dba Mercy Hospital Washington Washington, MO MRI Brain WO Cont $1,677.00 $2,580.00 35%
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Shriners Childrens - St Louis Saint Louis, MO MRI BRAIN STEM W/O DYE $1,935.50 $1,935.50
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Mercy Hospitals East Communities dba Mercy Hospital St Louis Saint Louis, MO MRI Brain WO Cont $2,096.25 $3,225.00 35%
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Mercy Hospital Lincoln Troy, MO MRI Brain WO Cont $2,120.30 $3,262.00 35%
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Mercy Hospital Jefferson Festus, MO MRI Brain WO for Tysabri Screen $2,274.35 $3,499.00 35%
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Hshs Holy Family Hospital Inc Greenville, IL HC MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST $3,026.16 $4,203.00 28%
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Ranken Jordan Home for Convalescent Crippled Children Hospital Maryland Heights, MO MRI Brain w/o Contrast $3,092.32 $3,865.40 20% Apr 24, 2026
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St Josephs Hospital Hospital Sisters Third Order of St Francis Breese, IL HC MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST $3,219.12 $4,471.00 28%
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St Josephs Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis Highland, IL HC MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST $3,221.28 $4,474.00 28%
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St Elizabeths Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis O'Fallon, IL HC MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST $3,223.44 $4,477.00 28%
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Outpatient: lowest $316.55, median $2,015.88, highest $3,223.44 — a 10.2× difference within the same market.

As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 8 facilities here, median $3,155.72. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.

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.