MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA — inpatient
In Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA, 7 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $996.48 to $10,243.33, with a median of $2,665.50. The lowest listed price is at St Mary Medical Center.
Cash prices at 7 facilities across 6 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 Sep 2, 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary Medical Center lowest Apple Valley, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE | $996.48 | $2,076.00 | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Mary Medical Center Apple Valley, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE LIMITED | $996.48 | $2,076.00 | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Riverside Riverside, CA MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $2,496.00 | $4,800.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fontana Fontana, CA MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $2,496.00 | $4,800.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Palo Verde Hospital Blythe, CA MRI Spine Lumbar w/o Contrast | $2,665.50 | $3,554.00 | 25% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital Loma Linda, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTR | $2,758.05 | $6,129.00 | 55% | Sep 2, 2026 source file |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTR | $4,753.35 | $10,563.00 | 55% | Sep 2, 2026 source file |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley, CA HC MRI Lumbar Spine WO Contr | $10,243.33 | $10,243.33 | — | — source file |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley, CA HC MRI Lumbar Spine WO Contr | $10,243.33 | $10,243.33 | — | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $996.48, median $2,665.50, highest $10,243.33 — a 10.3× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 12 facilities here, median $2,496.00 — 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.