Scans and imaging CPT 72148 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH — inpatient

In Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, 3 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $1,679.00 to $3,604.67, with a median of $3,421.71. The lowest listed price is at Ashland Hospital Corporation.

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 Oct 14, 2025 and Oct 14, 2025.

Lowest$1,679.00Ashland Hospital Corporation
Median$3,421.71half pay less
Highest$3,604.67in this market
Difference2.1×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 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH.

median
Lowest $1,679.00Highest $3,604.67

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceOff listFile date
Ashland Hospital Corporation lowest Ashland, KY HCHG MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONT $1,679.00 $4,197.50 60% Oct 14, 2025
source file
St. Mary�s Medical Center Huntington, WV MRI Spine Lumbar w/o Contrast $3,421.71 $3,421.71
source file
Cabell Huntington Hospital, Inc. Huntington, WV MRI Spine Lumbar w/o Contrast $3,604.67 $3,604.67
source file

Inpatient: lowest $1,679.00, median $3,421.71, highest $3,604.67 — a 2.1× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 3 facilities here, median $3,421.71 — 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.