Brain MRI with contrast cost in Maryland
In Maryland, 14 hospitals publish a cash price for MRI of the brain, with and without contrast dye: from $415.95 to $4,709.08, with a median of $872.38. The lowest price is at MedStar St. Mary's Hospital (Leonardtown). The highest price is 11.3× the lowest.
- The median here, $872.38, is 68% below the US median of $2,721.18.
- That is 2.4× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($356.43).
- Maryland ranks 2nd of 51 states by median, cheapest first.
- 2 of 14 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Why Maryland prices look low: Maryland is the only state where a commission (the HSCRC) sets hospital rates for every payer, so its hospitals publish prices far below the rest of the country. A separate physician fee may still apply.
Maryland law (Health-General §19-214.1) requires hospitals to give free medically necessary care to patients with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and to cut the bill by 75% up to 250% and 60% up to 300%. With medical debt above 25% of family income in a year, discounts reach up to 500%. Immigration status does not count. Ask the hospital for its financial assistance application. Other states' laws.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 70553. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Oct 29, 2026. See them on a map
Hospitals in Maryland, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| MedStar St. Mary's Hospital lowest Leonardtown · Lexington Park, MD MRI BRAIN WO W CONTRAST | $415.95 | $424.44 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Western Maryland Cumberland · Cumberland, MD-WV MRI HEAD W & W/O CONTRAST | $436.20 | $727.00 | Mar 2, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MRI BRAIN WO W CONTRAST | $702.85 | $717.19 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Frederick Health Hospital Frederick · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MRI BRAIN WWO CONT | $706.13 | $720.54 | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC MRI BRAIN COMBO | $711.61 | $726.13 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Southern Hospital Center Clinton · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MRI BRAIN WO W CONTRAST | $775.92 | $791.75 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| TidalHealth Peninsula Salisbury · Salisbury, MD HC MRI BRAIN W WO CONTRAST | $826.38 | $843.24 | Mar 19, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Harbor Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD BC-MRI BRAIN WO W CONTRAST | $918.38 | $937.12 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Atlantic General Hospital Berlin · Ocean Pines, MD Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, brain (including brain stem); without contrast material, followed by contrast material(s) and further sequences | $956.12 | $956.12 | Apr 10, 2026 source file |
| Greater Baltimore Medical Center Towson · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC MRI-Head Pre/Post | $958.55 | $978.11 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD BC-MRI BRAIN WO W CONTRAST | $1,176.56 | $1,200.57 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD BC-MRI BRAIN WO W CONTRAST | $1,207.41 | $1,232.05 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Olney · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MRI BRAIN WO W CONTRAST | $2,528.90 | $2,580.51 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MRI,BRAIN,W/WO CONTRAST GLR | $4,709.08 | $4,709.08 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 6 | $702.85 | $938.46 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3 | $706.13 | $775.92 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 1 | $436.20 | $436.20 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 1 | $415.95 | $415.95 |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 1 | $956.12 | $956.12 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1 | $4,709.08 | $4,709.08 |
| Salisbury, MD | 1 | $826.38 | $826.38 |
What brain MRI with contrast is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Brain MRI with contrast explained.
MRI of the brain, with and without contrast dye in other states
- Alabama$2,315.38
- Alaska$4,345.08
- Arizona$1,884.32
- Arkansas$1,520.40
- California$4,326.75
- Colorado$3,197.75
- Connecticut$2,504.00
- Delaware$4,596.80
- District of Columbia$3,267.00, 3 hospitals
- Florida$4,919.85
- Georgia$2,393.04
- Hawaii$1,945.30
- Idaho$2,263.00
- Illinois$4,018.12
- Indiana$1,307.00
- Iowa$3,483.40
- Kansas$1,738.28
- Kentucky$2,277.89
- Louisiana$1,305.72
- Maine$2,203.15
- Massachusetts$3,029.00
- Michigan$2,823.00
- Minnesota$2,901.31
- Mississippi$2,090.04
- Missouri$2,482.78
- Montana$2,816.80
- Nebraska$3,964.90
- Nevada$4,317.05
- New Hampshire$3,657.74
- New Jersey$1,023.47
- New Mexico$2,762.55
- New York$1,767.26
- North Carolina$2,812.50
- North Dakota$3,022.11
- Ohio$2,185.50
- Oklahoma$1,488.90
- Oregon$3,104.71
- Pennsylvania$2,899.60
- Puerto Rico$850.00
- Rhode Island$3,257.40
- South Carolina$2,265.90
- South Dakota$4,320.00
- Tennessee$1,490.20
- Texas$2,830.05
- Utah$5,845.85
- Vermont$4,809.25
- Virginia$2,719.15
- Washington$2,911.46
- West Virginia$1,950.45
- Wisconsin$3,415.00
- Wyoming$2,972.55
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.