Scans and imaging CPT 72148 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA — inpatient

In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, 28 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $1,532.00 to $6,686.08, with a median of $2,496.00. The lowest listed price is at UCI Health - Los Alamitos.

Cash prices at 28 facilities across 19 cities for code 72148, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Nov 26, 2025 and Jul 27, 2026.

Lowest$1,532.00UCI Health - Los Alamitos
Median$2,496.00half pay less
Highest$6,686.08in this market
Difference4.4×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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA.

median
Lowest $1,532.00Highest $6,686.08

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceOff listFile date
UCI Health - Los Alamitos lowest Orange, CA MRI SPINE LUMBAR W/O CM $1,532.00 $3,830.00 60% Apr 1, 2026
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UCI Health - Placentia Linda Orange, CA MRI SPINE LUMBAR W/O CM $1,532.00 $3,830.00 60% Apr 1, 2026
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Regents of the University of California at Irvine Hospital Orange, CA HB MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL $1,532.00 $3,830.00 60% Apr 1, 2026
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UCI Health - Fountain Valley Orange, CA MRI SPINE LUMBAR W/O CM $1,532.00 $3,830.00 60% Apr 1, 2026
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Providence Health System - Southern California Torrance, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $2,178.75 $6,225.00 65% Apr 1, 2026
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Providence Health System - Southern California San Pedro, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $2,178.75 $6,225.00 65% Apr 1, 2026
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USC Arcadia Hospital Arcadia, CA MRI-L/SP CANAL/CONTENT W/O $2,214.45 $6,327.00 65% Jul 27, 2026
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Providence Health System - Southern California Santa Monica, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $2,227.75 $6,365.00 65% Apr 1, 2026
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Tarzana Medical Center LLC Tarzana, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $2,238.25 $6,395.00 65% Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Woodland Hills Woodland Hills, CA MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL $2,496.00 $4,800.00 48%
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL $2,496.00 $4,800.00 48%
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Irvine Irvine, CA MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL $2,496.00 $4,800.00 48%
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Downey Downey, CA MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL $2,496.00 $4,800.00 48%
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Panorama City Panorama City, CA MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL $2,496.00 $4,800.00 48%
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Bay Harbor City, CA MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL $2,496.00 $4,800.00 48%
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park Baldwin Park, CA MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL $2,496.00 $4,800.00 48%
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim Anaheim, CA MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL $2,496.00 $4,800.00 48%
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Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE LIMITED $2,634.24 $5,488.00 52% Apr 1, 2026
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Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $2,634.24 $5,488.00 52% Apr 1, 2026
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Providence Health System - Southern California Mission Hills, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $3,473.05 $9,923.00 65% Apr 1, 2026
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Providence Health System - Southern California Burbank, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $3,897.95 $11,137.00 65% Apr 1, 2026
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Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital Marina del Rey, CA HB MRI L-SPINE WO CONTRAST $4,154.75 $6,391.93 35% Nov 26, 2025
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USC Kenneth Norris Jr Cancer Hospital Los Angeles, CA Mri Lumbar Spine W/O Dye $4,155.50 $4,155.50 Apr 1, 2026
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St Joseph Hospital of Orange Orange, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $4,173.60 $8,695.00 52% Apr 1, 2026
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St Joseph Hospital of Orange Orange, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE LIMITED $4,173.60 $8,695.00 52% Apr 1, 2026
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UCI Health - Lakewood Orange, CA MRI SPINE LUMBAR W/O CM $4,289.20 $10,723.00 60% Apr 1, 2026
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Childrens Hospital of Orange County - Profit Orange, CA LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST $4,519.00 $4,519.00 Mar 19, 2026
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Keck Hospital of USC Los Angeles, CA Mri Lumbar Spine W/O Dye $5,213.00 $5,213.00 Apr 1, 2026
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St Jude Hospital Inc Fullerton, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $5,753.76 $11,987.00 52% Apr 1, 2026
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St Jude Hospital Inc Fullerton, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE LIMITED $5,753.76 $11,987.00 52% Apr 1, 2026
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Childrens Hospital of Orange County - Profit Orange, CA MR Spine Lumbar W/O Contrast $5,848.00 $5,848.00 Mar 19, 2026
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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA HB MRI L-SPINE WO CONTRAST $6,686.08 $10,286.28 35% Nov 26, 2025
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Inpatient: lowest $1,532.00, median $2,496.00, highest $6,686.08 — a 4.4× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 31 facilities here, median $2,602.56 — 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.