Scans and imaging CPT 70551 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

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

In St. Louis, MO-IL, 8 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the brain, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $429.59 to $3,256.86, with a median of $3,155.72. The lowest listed price is at American Healthcare Systems Illinois LLC.

Cash prices at 8 facilities across 8 cities for code 70551, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 16, 2026 and Apr 24, 2026.

Lowest$429.59American Healthcare Systems Illinois LLC
Median$3,155.72half pay less
Highest$3,256.86in this market
Difference7.6×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 St. Louis, MO-IL.

median
Lowest $429.59Highest $3,256.86

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceOff listFile date
American Healthcare Systems Illinois LLC lowest Granite City, IL MR-BRAIN WO $429.59 $715.99 40%
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Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital South Louis, MO MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST $786.04 $786.04 Mar 16, 2026
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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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Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital St. Louis Chesterfield, MO MRI BRAIN W/O CONTRAST $3,256.86 $3,256.86 Mar 16, 2026
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Inpatient: lowest $429.59, median $3,155.72, highest $3,256.86 — a 7.6× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 12 facilities here, median $2,015.88 — 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.