Scans and imaging CPT 72148 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI — inpatient

In Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI, 16 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $1,341.96 to $2,783.96, with a median of $2,110.00. The lowest listed price is at Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital, Inc..

Cash prices at 16 facilities across 9 cities for code 72148, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Nov 21, 2025 and Mar 23, 2026.

Lowest$1,341.96Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital, Inc.
Median$2,110.00half pay less
Highest$2,783.96in 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI.

median
Lowest $1,341.96Highest $2,783.96

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceOff listFile date
Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital, Inc. lowest Franklin, WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST $1,341.96 $2,532.00 47%
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Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - Southeast Wisconsin Inc Franklin, WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST $1,341.96 $2,532.00 47%
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Ascension St. Francis Hospital, Inc. Milwaukee, WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST $1,341.96 $2,532.00 47%
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Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital, Inc. Milwaukee, WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST $1,341.96 $2,532.00 47%
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Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Milwaukee, Inc. Milwaukee, WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST $2,067.00 $3,900.00 47%
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Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Ozaukee, Inc. Mequon, WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST $2,067.00 $3,900.00 47%
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Aurora West Allis Medical Center West Allis, WI MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE $2,110.00 $4,220.00 50% Nov 21, 2025
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Aurora Sinai Medical Center of Aurora Health Care Metro Inc Milwaukee, WI MR L SPINE WO DYE $2,110.00 $4,220.00 50% Nov 21, 2025
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Aurora St Lukes Medical Center of Aurora Health Care Metro Inc Milwaukee, WI MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE $2,110.00 $4,220.00 50% Nov 21, 2025
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Aurora St Lukes Medical Center of Aurora Health Care Metro Inc Milwaukee, WI MR L SPINE WO DYE $2,110.00 $4,220.00 50% Nov 21, 2025
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Aurora St Lukes South Shore of Aurora Health Care Metro Inc Cudahy, WI MR L SPINE WO DYE $2,110.00 $4,220.00 50% Nov 21, 2025
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Aurora West Allis Medical Center West Allis, WI MR L SPINE WO DYE $2,110.00 $4,220.00 50% Nov 21, 2025
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Aurora Medical Center Grafton Grafton, WI MR L SPINE WO DYE $2,110.00 $4,220.00 50% Nov 21, 2025
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Aurora Medical Center Summit Summit, WI MR L SPINE WO DYE $2,110.00 $4,220.00 50% Nov 21, 2025
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Aurora Medical Center Washington County Hartford, WI MR L SPINE WO DYE $2,110.00 $4,220.00 50% Nov 21, 2025
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Aurora Medical Center Kenosha Kenosha, WI MR L SPINE WO DYE $2,110.00 $4,220.00 50% Nov 21, 2025
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Aurora Medical Center Kenosha Kenosha, WI MR LUMBAR SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE $2,110.00 $4,220.00 50% Nov 21, 2025
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Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Institute, Inc. Mequon, WI HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST $2,158.16 $4,072.00 47%
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Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI HBC LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST $2,783.96 $5,061.75 45% Mar 23, 2026
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Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI HBC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST $2,783.96 $5,061.75 45% Mar 23, 2026
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Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI HBC LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST $2,783.96 $5,061.75 45% Mar 23, 2026
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Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI HBC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST $2,783.96 $5,061.75 45% Mar 23, 2026
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Inpatient: lowest $1,341.96, median $2,110.00, highest $2,783.96 — a 2.1× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 16 facilities here, median $2,110.00 — 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.