MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX — inpatient
In Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, 12 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $231.94 to $3,694.38, with a median of $1,056.00. The lowest listed price is at Harris Health.
Cash prices at 12 facilities across 8 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 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris Health lowest Taub Loop Houston, TX MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $231.94 | $5,326.00 | 96% | — source file |
| Harris Health Houston, TX MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $231.94 | $5,326.00 | 96% | — source file |
| Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital Katy, TX HC MRI LUM SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,056.00 | $2,112.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital Nassau Bay, TX HC MRI LUM SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,056.00 | $2,112.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Methodist Hospital Houston, TX HC MRI LUM SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,056.00 | $2,112.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital Baytown, TX HC MRI LUM SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,056.00 | $2,112.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital Cypress, TX HC MRI LUM SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,056.00 | $2,112.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital The Woodlands, TX HC MRI LUM SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,056.00 | $2,112.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX HC MRI LUM SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,056.00 | $2,112.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist West Houston Hospital Houston, TX HC MRI LUM SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,056.00 | $2,112.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Willowbrook Hospital Houston, TX HC MRI LUM SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,056.00 | $2,112.00 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX TC MR, SPINE LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST | $3,694.38 | $5,514.00 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX TC MR, SPINE LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST | $3,694.38 | $5,514.00 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX TC MR, SPINE LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST | $3,694.38 | $5,514.00 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $231.94, median $1,056.00, highest $3,694.38 — a 15.9× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 14 facilities here, median $1,056.00 — 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.