Lower back MRI cost in Sweetwater, TN — inpatient
In Sweetwater, TN, 1 hospital lists a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye as an inpatient: from $992.25 to $992.25, with a median of $992.25. Across Tennessee, the median is $975.36 at 77 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 72148, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between — and —.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetwater Hospital Association Sweetwater, TN · (865) 213-8200 MRI LUMBAR WO CONT | $992.25 | $2,205.00 | $133.32–$2,546.00 | 55% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $992.25, median $992.25, highest $992.25.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $992.25 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
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.