Scans and imaging CPT 72131 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

Lumbar spine CT cost in Eureka, CA — inpatient

In Eureka-Arcata, CA, 2 hospitals list a cash price for CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) without contrast as an inpatient: from $2,146.59 to $2,387.31, with a median of $2,266.95. The lowest listed price is at Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital — $120.36 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $2,860.00 at 99 hospitals.

Cash prices at 2 facilities across 2 cities for code 72131, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Apr 1, 2026.

Lowest$2,146.59Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital
Median$2,266.95half pay less
Highest$2,387.31in this market
Difference1.1×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 Eureka-Arcata, CA.

median
Lowest $2,146.59Highest $2,387.31

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceInsurers payOff listFile date
Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital lowest Fortuna, CA · (707) 445-8121 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST $2,146.59 $4,209.00 — 49% Apr 1, 2026
source file
Providence St Joseph Hospital Eureka, CA · (707) 445-8121 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST $2,387.31 $4,681.00 — 49% Apr 1, 2026
source file

Inpatient: lowest $2,146.59, median $2,266.95, highest $2,387.31 — a 1.1× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $1,137.81 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.

What it is

This CT scan shows the bones of the lower back in detail. It is used after injuries and when an MRI is not possible.

What the price covers

The price usually covers the scan. The radiologist's reading may be billed separately.