MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in St. Louis, MO-IL — inpatient
In St. Louis, MO-IL, 8 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $429.59 to $3,208.32, with a median of $2,698.04. The lowest listed price is at American Healthcare Systems Illinois LLC.
Cash prices at 8 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 16, 2026 and Apr 24, 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 St. Louis, MO-IL.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Healthcare Systems Illinois LLC lowest Granite City, IL MR-LUMB SPINE WO | $429.59 | $715.99 | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital South Louis, MO MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $786.04 | $786.04 | — | Mar 16, 2026 source file |
| Ranken Jordan Home for Convalescent Crippled Children Hospital Maryland Heights, MO MRI Spine Lumbar w/o Contrast | $1,974.72 | $2,468.40 | 20% | Apr 24, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeths Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis O'Fallon, IL HC MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $2,338.56 | $3,248.00 | 28% | — source file |
| Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital St. Louis Chesterfield, MO MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $3,057.51 | $3,057.51 | — | Mar 16, 2026 source file |
| St Josephs Hospital Hospital Sisters Third Order of St Francis Breese, IL HC MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $3,121.92 | $4,336.00 | 28% | — source file |
| Hshs Holy Family Hospital Inc Greenville, IL HC MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $3,201.12 | $4,446.00 | 28% | — source file |
| St Josephs Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis Highland, IL HC MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $3,208.32 | $4,456.00 | 28% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $429.59, median $2,698.04, highest $3,208.32 — a 7.5× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 12 facilities here, median $2,072.20 — 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.