MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in Columbia, SC — inpatient
In Columbia, SC, 3 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $1,003.00 to $1,983.50, with a median of $1,003.00. The lowest listed price is at MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Northeast.
Cash prices at 3 facilities across 2 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 Apr 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 Columbia, SC.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Northeast lowest Columbia, SC HB MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,003.00 | $2,006.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Musc Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown Columbia, SC HB MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,003.00 | $2,006.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kershaw Medical Center Camden, SC HB MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,983.50 | $3,967.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $1,003.00, median $1,003.00, highest $1,983.50 — a 2.0× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 3 facilities here, median $1,003.00 — 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.