Lumbar spine CT cost in Los Angeles, CA
In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, 30 hospitals list a cash price for CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) without contrast: from $133.00 to $5,270.50, with a median of $2,107.00. The lowest listed price is at La Palma Intercommunity Hospital and 3 other hospitals — $1,974.00 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $2,860.00 at 99 hospitals.
Cash prices at 30 facilities across 22 cities for code 72131, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Nov 26, 2025 and Sep 1, 2026.
Lowest$133.00La Palma Intercommunity Hospital + 3 more
Median$2,107.00half pay less
Highest$5,270.50in this market
Difference39.6×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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA.
median
Lowest $133.00Highest $5,270.50
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Palma Intercommunity Hospital lowest La Palma, CA · (714) 670-7400 Hc Ct Scan Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast | $133.00 | $2,575.00 | $131.98–$2,575.00 | 95% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Centinela Hospital Medical Center lowest Inglewood, CA · (310) 673-4660 CT SP LUMB W/O CM | $133.00 | $2,628.00 | $131.98–$2,628.00 | 95% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Sherman Oaks Hospital lowest Sherman Oaks, CA · (818) 981-7111 CT LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $133.00 | $2,067.00 | $131.98–$2,067.00 | 94% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center lowest Encino, CA · (818) 995-5000 CT SP LUMB W/O $ | $133.00 | $4,093.60 | $131.98–$4,093.60 | 97% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center lowest Encino, CA · (818) 995-5000 CT Lumbar Spine with Contrast | $133.00 | $3,648.80 | $131.98–$4,093.60 | 96% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Mission Hills, CA · (818) 365-8051 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $406.70 | $1,162.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center Tarzana, CA · (818) 881-0800 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $410.90 | $1,174.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank, CA · (818) 843-5111 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $415.45 | $1,187.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UCI Health - Fountain Valley Orange, CA · (714) 456-7890 CT SPINE LUMBAR W/O CM | $828.80 | $2,072.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UCI Health - Los Alamitos Orange, CA · (714) 456-7890 CT SPINE LUMBAR W/O CM | $828.80 | $2,072.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UCI Health - Placentia Linda Orange, CA · (714) 456-7890 CT SPINE LUMBAR W/O CM | $828.80 | $2,072.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Joseph Hospital of Orange Orange, CA · (714) 633-9111 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $955.68 | $1,991.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Jude Hospital Fullerton, CA · (714) 992-3000 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $1,155.36 | $2,407.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center Tarzana, CA · (818) 881-0800 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $1,298.85 | $3,711.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Joseph Hospital of Orange Orange, CA · (714) 633-9111 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $1,400.64 | $2,918.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 364-1400 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $1,528.32 | $3,184.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Mission Hills, CA · (818) 365-8051 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $1,556.10 | $4,446.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 364-1400 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $1,773.12 | $3,694.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Little Co of Mary Medical Center San Pedro San Pedro, CA · (310) 832-3311 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $1,802.85 | $5,151.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance Torrance, CA · (310) 540-7676 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $1,802.85 | $5,151.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank, CA · (818) 843-5111 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $2,091.95 | $5,977.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint John's Health Center Santa Monica, CA · (310) 829-5511 HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $2,411.15 | $6,889.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Downey Downey, CA · (562) 461-6007 CT LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $2,860.00 | $5,500.00 | $119.00–$355.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Panorama City Panorama City, CA · (818) 375-2000 CT LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $2,860.00 | $5,500.00 | $119.00–$355.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · (323) 783-4011 CT LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $2,860.00 | $5,500.00 | $119.00–$355.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - West la Los Angeles, CA · (213) 857-2201 CT LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $2,860.00 | $5,500.00 | $119.00–$355.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Bay Harbor City, CA · (310) 325-5111 CT LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $2,860.00 | $5,500.00 | $119.00–$355.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park Baldwin Park, CA · (626) 851-1011 CT LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $2,860.00 | $5,500.00 | $119.00–$355.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Woodland Hills Woodland Hills, CA · (818) 719-3800 CT LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $2,860.00 | $5,500.00 | $119.00–$355.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Irvine Irvine, CA CT LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $2,860.00 | $5,500.00 | $119.00–$355.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim Anaheim, CA · (714) 279-4000 CT LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $2,860.00 | $5,500.00 | $119.00–$355.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital Marina del Rey, CA · (310) 823-8911 Outpatient Global Laboratory, Radiology and Diagnostic Services | $2,998.61 | $4,613.25 | $216.21–$2,246.04 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital Marina del Rey, CA · (310) 823-8911 PET Scan | $2,998.61 | $4,613.25 | $216.21–$2,246.04 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital Marina del Rey, CA · (310) 823-8911 Radiology Services not otherwise listed herein | $2,998.61 | $4,613.25 | $216.21–$2,246.04 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital Marina del Rey, CA · (310) 823-8911 CT/CTA Scan(s) includes contrast materials and other radiologic supplies. | $2,998.61 | $4,613.25 | $216.21–$2,246.04 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital Marina del Rey, CA · (310) 823-8911 HB CT L-SPINE WO CONTRAST | $2,998.61 | $4,613.25 | $132.41–$9,712.00 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital Marina del Rey, CA · (310) 823-8911 CAT Scan | $2,998.61 | $4,613.25 | $216.21–$2,246.04 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| UCI Health - Lakewood Orange, CA · (714) 456-7890 CT SPINE LUMBAR W/O CM | $3,242.80 | $8,107.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 CAT Scan | $4,336.56 | $6,671.63 | $216.01–$4,200.53 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY, LUMBAR SPINE; W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $4,336.56 | $6,671.63 | $216.01–$4,200.53 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 COMPUTERIZED AXIAL TOMOGRAPHY, LUMBAR SPINE; WITHOUT CONTRAST MATERIAL | $4,336.56 | $6,671.63 | $216.01–$4,200.53 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 HB CT L-SPINE WO CONTRAST | $4,336.56 | $6,671.63 | $132.41–$14,761.00 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 PET Scan | $4,336.56 | $6,671.63 | $216.01–$4,200.53 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 CT SCAN | $4,336.56 | $6,671.63 | $216.01–$4,200.53 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Keck Hospital of USC Los Angeles, CA · (323) 442-8656 Ct Lumbar Spine W/O Dye | $4,338.25 | $4,338.25 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| USC Kenneth Norris Jr Cancer Hospital Los Angeles, CA Ct Lumbar Spine W/O Dye | $5,270.50 | $5,270.50 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $133.00, median $2,107.00, highest $5,270.50 — a 39.6× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 27 facilities here, median $2,860.00. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 4 of 15 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
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.