Scans and imaging CPT 72148 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA — inpatient

In Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA, 4 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $426.87 to $5,534.52, with a median of $4,023.27. The lowest listed price is at NorCal HealthConnect LLC.

Cash prices at 4 facilities across 3 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 Apr 1, 2026.

Lowest$426.87NorCal HealthConnect LLC
Median$4,023.27half pay less
Highest$5,534.52in this market
Difference13.0×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 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA.

median
Lowest $426.87Highest $5,534.52

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceOff listFile date
NorCal HealthConnect LLC lowest Healdsburg, CA HC PR 72148 MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL $426.87 $837.00 49% Apr 1, 2026
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NorCal HealthConnect LLC Healdsburg, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $1,788.57 $3,507.00 49% Apr 1, 2026
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NorCal HealthConnect LLC Healdsburg, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE LIMITED $1,788.57 $3,507.00 49% Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Santa Rosa Santa Rosa, CA MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL $3,281.60 $5,860.00 44%
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St Joseph Health Northern California LLC Santa Rosa, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $4,764.93 $9,343.00 49% Apr 1, 2026
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St Joseph Health Northern California LLC Santa Rosa, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE LIMITED $4,764.93 $9,343.00 49% Apr 1, 2026
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NorCal HealthConnect LLC Petaluma, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE LIMITED $5,534.52 $10,852.00 49% Apr 1, 2026
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NorCal HealthConnect LLC Petaluma, CA HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE $5,534.52 $10,852.00 49% Apr 1, 2026
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Inpatient: lowest $426.87, median $4,023.27, highest $5,534.52 — a 13.0× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 4 facilities here, median $2,893.74 — 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.