Scans and imaging CPT 72146 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

Thoracic spine MRI cost in Sierra Vista, AZ — inpatient

In Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ, 1 hospital lists a cash price for MRI of the mid back (thoracic spine), no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $1,137.32 to $1,137.32, with a median of $1,137.32. Across Arizona, the median is $726.38 at 32 hospitals.

Cash prices at 1 facility for code 72146, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between May 13, 2026 and May 13, 2026.

Lowest$1,137.32Benson Hospital
Median$1,137.32half pay less
Highest$1,137.32in this market
Difference1.0×highest vs lowest

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceInsurers payOff listFile date
Benson Hospital Benson, AZ · (520) 586-2261 FAC MRI THORASIC SPINE W/O CONTRAST $1,137.32 $2,369.40 $1,421.64–$2,132.46 52% May 13, 2026
source file

Inpatient: lowest $1,137.32, median $1,137.32, highest $1,137.32.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $1,137.32 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.

Cash or insurance?

At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated and 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

An MRI of the thoracic spine makes detailed pictures of the middle section of the spine, between the neck and the lower back, including discs, vertebrae and the spinal cord. It is ordered for mid-back pain, suspected fractures or nerve symptoms. No contrast dye is used.

What the price covers

The hospital price usually covers the scan of the mid-back section only. The radiologist's reading is often billed separately.