Scans and imaging CPT 72148 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX — inpatient

In Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, 13 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $784.44 to $3,694.38, with a median of $2,065.69. The lowest listed price is at Ascension Seton.

Cash prices at 13 facilities across 10 cities for code 72148, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 5, 2026 and Jun 13, 2026.

Lowest$784.44Ascension Seton
Median$2,065.69half pay less
Highest$3,694.38in this market
Difference4.7×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 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.

median
Lowest $784.44Highest $3,694.38

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceOff listFile date
Ascension Seton lowest Luling, TX MR L SPN CANL WO $784.44 $2,179.00 64%
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Ascension Seton Kyle, TX MR L SPN CANL WO $1,089.81 $3,027.25 64%
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Ascension Seton Smithville, TX MR L SPN CANL WO $1,144.35 $3,178.75 64%
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX MR L SPN CANL WO $1,144.35 $3,178.75 64%
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX MR L SPN CANL WO $1,144.35 $3,178.75 64%
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX MR L SPN CANL WO $1,144.35 $3,178.75 64%
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX MR L SPN CANL WO $1,144.35 $3,178.75 64%
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Ascension Seton Kyle, TX MR L SPN CANL WO PEDI $1,242.99 $3,452.75 64%
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Ascension Seton Smithville, TX MR L SPN CANL WO PEDI $1,242.99 $3,452.75 64%
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Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Taylor Taylor, TX HC MRI SPINE LUMBAR W/O CONTRA $2,065.69 $3,442.81 40% Jun 12, 2026
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Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Pflugerville Pflugerville, TX HC MRI SPINE LUMBAR W/O CONTRA $2,065.69 $3,442.81 40% Jun 13, 2026
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Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Buda Buda, TX HC MRI SPINE LUMBAR W/O CONTRA $2,065.69 $3,442.81 40% Jun 13, 2026
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Baylor Scott & White Emergency Medical Center - Cedar Park Cedar Park, TX HC MRI SPINE LUMBAR W/O CONTRA $2,065.69 $3,442.81 40% Jun 3, 2026
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Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Lakeway Lakeway, TX HC MRI SPINE LUMBAR W/O CONTRA $2,065.69 $3,442.81 40% Jun 13, 2026
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Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Round Rock Round Rock, TX HC MRI SPINE LUMBAR W/O CONTRA $2,065.69 $3,442.81 40% Jun 13, 2026
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Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Austin Austin, TX HC MRI SPINE LUMBAR W/O CONTRA $2,065.69 $3,442.81 40% Jun 13, 2026
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Ascension Cedar Park Cedar Park, TX MR-LUMB SPINE WO $2,198.29 $6,106.37 64%
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX MR L SPN CANL WO $2,225.13 $3,178.75 30%
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Ascension Seton Austin, TX MR L SPN CANL WO PEDI $2,416.93 $3,452.75 30%
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Texas Children's Hospital - Austin Austin, TX TC MR, SPINE LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST $3,694.38 $5,514.00 33% Mar 5, 2026
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Inpatient: lowest $784.44, median $2,065.69, highest $3,694.38 — a 4.7× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 13 facilities here, median $1,242.99 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.

What it is

An MRI of the lower back uses a magnet and radio waves to make detailed pictures of the lumbar spine, including discs, nerves and the spinal canal. It is commonly ordered for back pain that spreads down the leg, numbness or weakness. No contrast dye is used.

What the price covers

The hospital price usually covers the scan. The radiologist's interpretation is often billed separately.