Scans and imaging CPT 72131 Outpatient

Lumbar spine CT cost in Atlanta, GA

In Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, 36 hospitals list a cash price for CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) without contrast: from $650.40 to $4,905.00, with a median of $1,289.00. The lowest listed price is at Tanner Medical Center - Villa Rica and 3 other hospitals — $638.60 less than the median here. Across Georgia, the median is $1,289.00 at 86 hospitals.

Cash prices at 36 facilities across 25 cities for code 72131, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 29, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Jul 1, 2026.

Lowest$650.40Tanner Medical Center - Villa Rica + 3 more
Median$1,289.00half pay less
Highest$4,905.00in this market
Difference7.5×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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA.

median
Lowest $650.40Highest $5,516.00

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceInsurers payOff listFile date
Tanner Medical Center - Villa Rica lowest Villa Rica, GA · (770) 456-3101 CT LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $650.40 $1,626.00 $104.35–$125.22 60% —
source file
Willowbrooke at Tanner lowest Villa Rica, GA · (770) 456-3101 CT LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $650.40 $1,626.00 $104.35–$114.78 60% —
source file
Higgins General Hospital lowest Bremen, GA · (770) 812-2000 CT LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $650.40 $1,626.00 — 60% —
source file
Tanner Medical Center - Carrollton lowest Carrollton, GA · (770) 836-9580 CT LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $650.40 $1,626.00 $104.35–$114.78 60% —
source file
Piedmont Atlanta Atlanta, GA · (404) 605-5000 HC CT Lumbar Spine WO Cntrst $911.79 $3,039.30 $261.88–$2,583.41 70% Jul 1, 2026
source file
Piedmont Rockdale Conyers, GA · (770) 918-3000 HC CT Lumbar Spine WO Cntrst $911.79 $3,039.30 $261.88–$2,279.48 70% Jul 1, 2026
source file
Piedmont Newnan Newnan, GA · (770) 400-2300 HC CT Lumbar Spine WO Cntrst $911.79 $3,039.30 $261.88–$2,826.55 70% Jul 1, 2026
source file
Piedmont Walton Monroe, GA · (770) 267-8461 HC CT Lumbar Spine WO Cntrst $911.79 $3,039.30 $261.88–$2,735.37 70% Jul 1, 2026
source file
Piedmont Fayette Fayetteville, GA · (770) 719-7000 HC CT Lumbar Spine WO Cntrst $911.79 $3,039.30 $261.88–$2,583.41 70% Jul 1, 2026
source file
Piedmont Eastside Snellville, GA · (770) 979-0200 HC CT Lumbar Spine WO Cntrst $911.79 $3,039.30 $261.88–$2,735.37 70% Jul 1, 2026
source file
Piedmont Henry Stockbridge, GA · (678) 604-1000 HC CT Lumbar Spine WO Cntrst $911.79 $3,039.30 $257.73–$2,583.41 70% Jul 1, 2026
source file
Piedmont Mountainside Jasper, GA · (706) 692-2441 HC CT Lumbar Spine WO Cntrst $911.79 $3,039.30 $261.88–$2,583.41 70% Jul 1, 2026
source file
Piedmont Newton Covington, GA · (770) 786-7053 HC CT Lumbar Spine WO Cntrst $911.79 $3,039.30 $261.88–$2,583.41 70% Jul 1, 2026
source file
Willowbrooke at Tanner Villa Rica, GA · (770) 456-3101 CT SCAN OF LOWER SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST $981.20 $2,453.00 $104.35–$114.79 60% —
source file
Tanner Medical Center - Villa Rica Villa Rica, GA · (770) 456-3101 CT SCAN OF LOWER SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST $981.20 $2,453.00 $104.35–$125.22 60% —
source file
Tanner Medical Center - Carrollton Carrollton, GA · (770) 836-9580 CT SCAN OF LOWER SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST $981.20 $2,453.00 $104.35–$114.79 60% —
source file
Higgins General Hospital Bremen, GA · (770) 812-2000 CT SCAN OF LOWER SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST $981.20 $2,453.00 — 60% —
source file
Saint Josephs Hospital of Atlanta Atlanta, GA · (678) 843-7001 Hc Ct Scan,Lumbar Spine,W/O Contrast - Ct Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast $1,289.00 $1,289.00 — — —
source file
Emory Hillandale Hospital Lithonia, GA · (404) 501-8040 Hc Ct Scan,Lumbar Spine,W/O Contrast - Ct Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast $1,289.00 $1,289.00 — — Apr 1, 2026
source file
Emory Decatur Hospital Decatur, GA · (404) 501-1000 Hc Ct Scan,Lumbar Spine,W/O Contrast - Ct Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast $1,289.00 $1,289.00 — — Apr 1, 2026
source file
Emory University Hospital Atlanta, GA · (404) 686-8500 Hc Ct Scan,Lumbar Spine,W/O Contrast - Ct Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast $1,289.00 $1,289.00 — — Apr 1, 2026
source file
Emory University Hospital Midtown Atlanta, GA · (404) 686-2450 Hc Ct Scan,Lumbar Spine,W/O Contrast - Ct Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast $1,289.00 $1,289.00 — — Apr 1, 2026
source file
DeKalb Medical at Decatur Decatur, GA Hc Ct Scan,Lumbar Spine,W/O Contrast - Ct Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast $1,289.00 $1,289.00 — — Apr 1, 2026
source file
Emory Johns Creek Hospital Johns Creek, GA · (678) 474-7000 Hc Ct Scan,Lumbar Spine,W/O Contrast - Ct Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast $1,289.00 $1,289.00 — — Apr 1, 2026
source file
Emory Rehabilitation Hospital Atlanta, GA Hc Ct Scan,Lumbar Spine,W/O Contrast - Ct Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast $1,289.00 $1,289.00 — — Apr 1, 2026
source file
Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital Griffin, GA · (770) 228-2721 Hc Ct Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast $1,610.70 $4,130.00 — 61% Apr 1, 2026
source file
Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital Marietta, GA Hc Ct Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast $1,610.70 $4,130.00 — 61% Apr 1, 2026
source file
Wellstar Cobb Hospital Austell, GA · (770) 732-4000 Hc Ct Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast $1,610.70 $4,130.00 — 61% Apr 1, 2026
source file
Wellstar North Fulton Hospital Roswell, GA · (770) 751-2500 Hc Ct Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast $1,610.70 $4,130.00 — 61% Apr 1, 2026
source file
Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Marietta, GA · (770) 793-5000 Hc Ct Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast $1,610.70 $4,130.00 — 61% Apr 1, 2026
source file
Wellstar Paulding Hospital Hiram, GA · (470) 644-7000 Hc Ct Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast $1,610.70 $4,130.00 — 61% Apr 1, 2026
source file
Wellstar Sylvan Grove Hospital Jackson, GA · (770) 775-7861 Hc Ct Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast $1,610.70 $4,130.00 — 61% Apr 1, 2026
source file
Wellstar Roosevelt Long Term Acute Care At Warm Sp Warm Springs, GA Hc Ct Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast $1,610.70 $4,130.00 — 61% Apr 1, 2026
source file
Wellstar Douglas Hospital Douglasville, GA · (770) 949-1500 Hc Ct Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast $1,610.70 $4,130.00 — 61% Apr 1, 2026
source file
Piedmont Cartersville Cartersville, GA · (470) 490-1000 HC CT Lumbar Spine WO Cntrst $1,622.16 $5,407.20 $261.88–$4,866.48 70% Jul 1, 2026
source file
Shepherd Center Northwest Atlanta, GA HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CNTRST $1,947.00 $3,894.00 $1,168.20–$3,504.60 50% —
source file
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta – Arthur M. Blank Atlanta, GA CT Scan of Lower Spine W/O Contrast $3,150.00 $3,150.00 — — —
source file
Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite Atlanta, GA · (404) 785-5252 CT Scan of Lower Spine W/O Contrast $3,150.00 $3,150.00 — — —
source file
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta – Meridian Mark Atlanta, GA CT Scan of Lower Spine W/O Contrast $3,150.00 $3,150.00 — — —
source file
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta – Hughes Spalding Atlanta, GA Lumbar Spine CT W O Dye Ect $4,905.00 $4,905.00 $1,129.02–$3,339.81 — —
source file
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta – Hughes Spalding Atlanta, GA CT Scan of Lower Spine W/O Contrast $5,516.00 $5,516.00 $1,269.55–$3,755.84 — —
source file

Outpatient: lowest $650.40, median $1,289.00, highest $4,905.00 — a 7.5× difference within the same market.

As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 28 facilities here, median $1,289.00. 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 11 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.

1 row held back from this comparison

It is priced below $1 or below a tenth of the national median for code 72131 ($1,395.49). Such a line is almost always a physician's fee billed separately, an assistant's share or a placeholder — a real charge, but not the price of the procedure itself.

Southern Regional Medical Center Southwest Riverdale, GAHc Ct Scan Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast $104.00 file