Lower back MRI with contrast cost in Taos, NM — inpatient
In Taos, NM, 1 hospital lists a cash price for MRI of the lower back, without and then with contrast dye as an inpatient: from $2,661.20 to $2,661.20, with a median of $2,661.20. Across New Mexico, the median is $2,105.08 at 2 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 72158, 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.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Cross Hospital a Div of Taos Health Systems Taos, NM · (575) 758-8883 MRI SPINE LUMBAR W/WO CONTRAST | $2,661.20 | $3,326.50 | — | 20% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $2,661.20, median $2,661.20, highest $2,661.20.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $2,661.20 — 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.