Lower back MRI with contrast cost in Lexington, KY — inpatient
In Lexington-Fayette, KY, 1 hospital lists a cash price for MRI of the lower back, without and then with contrast dye as an inpatient: from $2,273.79 to $2,273.79, with a median of $2,273.79. Across Kentucky, the median is $4,317.77 at 15 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 72158, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 22, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Apr 1, 2026.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Kentucky Hospital Lexington, KY · (859) 257-2278 Hc Mri, Lumbar Spine Combo - Mri Lumbar Spine W Wo Contrast | $2,273.79 | $5,684.47 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $2,273.79, median $2,273.79, highest $2,273.79.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $3,295.78 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
What it is
This MRI of the lumbar spine takes one set of pictures without contrast dye and a second set after the dye is injected into a vein. The dye helps tell scar tissue from a new disc problem after back surgery and can show infection, inflammation or tumors.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers both sets of images; the contrast agent may appear as a separate line on some bills. The radiologist's reading is often billed separately.