Scans and imaging CPT 70553 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

MRI of the brain, with and without contrast dye in Pittsburgh, PA — inpatient

In Pittsburgh, PA, 14 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the brain, with and without contrast dye as an inpatient: from $1,445.58 to $9,808.20, with a median of $3,943.98. The lowest listed price is at UPMC Washington.

Cash prices at 14 facilities across 9 cities for code 70553, 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$1,445.58UPMC Washington
Median$3,943.98half pay less
Highest$9,808.20in this market
Difference6.8×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 $1,445.58Highest $9,808.20

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceOff listFile date
UPMC Washington lowest Washington, PA MRI PITUITARY W W/O $1,445.58 $2,409.30 40%
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Monogahela Valley Hospital Monongahela, PA MRI BRAIN & PITUITARY W & W/O $1,776.00 $2,960.00 40%
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Monogahela Valley Hospital Monongahela, PA MRI BRAIN/IAC W & W/O CONT $1,776.00 $2,960.00 40%
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UPMC Washington Washington, PA MRI IAC'S W & W/O CONTRAST $1,821.63 $3,036.05 40%
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UPMC Washington Washington, PA MRI BRAIN W & W/OUT CONTRAST $1,821.63 $3,036.05 40%
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UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA MR BRAIN W WO CON $2,584.20 $4,307.00 40%
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Monogahela Valley Hospital Monongahela, PA MRI BRAIN W/WO $2,594.40 $4,324.00 40%
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Highlands Hospital Connellsville, PA MRI BRAIN W/WO CONTRAST $2,594.40 $4,324.00 40%
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Highlands Hospital Connellsville, PA MRI BRAIN W/WO $2,594.40 $4,324.00 40%
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West Penn Allegheny Health System INC Wexford, PA HC MRI BRAIN W/WO CNTRST $3,765.86 $5,089.00 26% Apr 14, 2026
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Jefferson Regional Medical Center Jefferson Hills, PA HC MRI BRAIN W/WO CNTRST $4,122.09 $5,089.00 19% Apr 14, 2026
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UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA MR BRAIN W WO CON $4,699.20 $7,832.00 40% Mar 6, 2026
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UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA MR BRAIN W WO CON $5,810.40 $9,684.00 40%
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UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA HC MR BRAIN W WO CON $5,999.40 $9,999.00 40%
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UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA MR BRAIN W WO CON $6,049.20 $10,082.00 40%
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UPMC East Monroeville, PA MR BRAIN W WO CON $6,218.40 $10,364.00 40%
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UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA MR BRAIN W WO CON $6,512.40 $10,854.00 40%
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UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA HC MR BRAIN W WO CON $6,741.00 $11,235.00 40%
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UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA MR BRAIN WWO CON DONE IN PET $9,808.20 $16,347.00 40% Mar 6, 2026
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UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA MR BRAIN W WO CON $9,808.20 $16,347.00 40% Mar 6, 2026
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Inpatient: lowest $1,445.58, median $3,943.98, highest $9,808.20 — a 6.8× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 15 facilities here, median $3,180.13 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.

What it is

This brain MRI is done in two parts: first without contrast dye, then again after a gadolinium contrast dye is injected into a vein. The contrast helps show tumors, infection, inflammation and conditions such as multiple sclerosis more clearly.

What the price covers

The hospital price usually covers both sets of images. The radiologist's reading is often billed separately, and the contrast agent may appear as its own pharmacy charge.