Scans and imaging CPT 72148 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in Traverse City, MI — inpatient

In Traverse City, MI, 3 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $602.65 to $2,468.40, with a median of $2,360.45. The lowest listed price is at Kalkaska Memorial Health Center.

Cash prices at 3 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 17, 2026 and Apr 17, 2026.

Lowest$602.65Kalkaska Memorial Health Center
Median$2,360.45half pay less
Highest$2,468.40in this market
Difference4.1×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 Traverse City, MI.

median
Lowest $602.65Highest $2,468.40

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceOff listFile date
Kalkaska Memorial Health Center lowest Kalkaska, MI MRI INCOMPLETE LUMBAR SPINE $602.65 $709.00 15% Apr 17, 2026
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Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Frankfort, MI MRI INCOMPLETE LUMBAR SPINE $2,184.50 $2,570.00 15% Apr 17, 2026
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Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Frankfort, MI MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST $2,295.85 $2,701.00 15% Apr 17, 2026
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Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Frankfort, MI MR Exams $2,295.85 $2,701.00 15% Apr 17, 2026
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Kalkaska Memorial Health Center Kalkaska, MI MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST $2,360.45 $2,777.00 15% Apr 17, 2026
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Kalkaska Memorial Health Center Kalkaska, MI MR Exams $2,360.45 $2,777.00 15% Apr 17, 2026
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Munson Medical Center Traverse City, MI MR Exams $2,468.40 $2,904.00 15% Apr 17, 2026
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Munson Medical Center Traverse City, MI MRI INCOMPLETE LUMBAR SPINE $2,468.40 $2,904.00 15% Apr 17, 2026
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Munson Medical Center Traverse City, MI MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST $2,468.40 $2,904.00 15% Apr 17, 2026
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Inpatient: lowest $602.65, median $2,360.45, highest $2,468.40 — a 4.1× difference within the same market.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 3 facilities here, median $2,360.45 — 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.