MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in St. Paul, MN
In St. Paul, MN, 1 hospital lists a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye: from $410.50 to $547.30, with a median of $478.90.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 72148, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jun 16, 2026 and Jun 16, 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. Paul, MN.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allina Health Systems lowest St. Paul, MN HCHG RAD MRI SPINE LUMBAR WO LIMITED | $410.50 | $855.20 | 52% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina Health Systems St. Paul, MN HCHG RAD MRI SPINE LUMBAR WO | $547.30 | $1,140.20 | 52% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $410.50, median $478.90, highest $547.30 — a 1.3× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $478.90. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
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.