MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN — inpatient
In Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, 8 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $184.11 to $2,365.80, with a median of $965.20. The lowest listed price is at Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Cash prices at 8 facilities across 5 cities for code 72148, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Jul 1, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children's Hospital Medical Center lowest Cincinnati, OH Chg Mri Spinal Canal Lumbar W/O Contrast Material|By Specialist | $184.11 | $361.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH Chg Mri Spinal Canal Lumbar W/O Contrast Material|By Midlevel | $184.11 | $361.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Bethesda Hospital Inc. Cincinnati, OH HC MR Spine Lumbar WO Contrast | $494.70 | $659.60 | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Good Samaritan Hospital of Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati, OH HC MR Spine Lumbar WO Contrast | $494.70 | $659.60 | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kettering Medical Center Miamisburg, OH Hc Mri Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast | $965.20 | $2,413.00 | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kettering Medical Center Kettering, OH Hc Mri Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast | $965.20 | $2,413.00 | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Fort Hamilton Hospital Hamilton, OH Hc Mri Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast | $965.20 | $2,413.00 | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH Hb Mri Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast | $2,148.12 | $4,212.00 | 49% | — source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center, LLC Cincinnati, OH Hc Mri L-Spine W/O Contrast | $2,365.80 | $3,943.00 | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Chester Hospital, LLC West Chester, OH Hc Mri L-Spine W/O Contrast | $2,365.80 | $3,943.00 | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $184.11, median $965.20, highest $2,365.80 — a 12.8× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 9 facilities here, median $965.20 — 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.