Lumbar spine CT cost in Iowa
In Iowa, 37 hospitals publish a cash price for CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) without contrast: from $371.20 to $4,083.00, with a median of $1,414.80. The lowest price is at Allen Hospital (Waterloo) and 10 other hospitals. The highest price is 11.0× the lowest.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 72131. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 23, 2026.
Lowest$371.20Allen Hospital + 10 more
Median$1,414.80half pay less
Highest$4,083.00in Iowa
Lowest saves$1,043.60vs the median
Hospitals in Iowa, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen Hospital lowest Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA PR CT SCAN,LUMBAR SPINE,W/O CONTRAST | $371.20 | $464.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center lowest Grinnell · Grinnell, IA PR CT SCAN,LUMBAR SPINE,W/O CONTRAST | $371.20 | $464.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Methodist Hospital lowest Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids, IA PR CT SCAN,LUMBAR SPINE,W/O CONTRAST | $371.20 | $464.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Luke'sJones Regional Medical Center lowest Anamosa · Cedar Rapids, IA PR CT SCAN,LUMBAR SPINE,W/O CONTRAST | $371.20 | $464.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center lowest Sioux City · Sioux City, IA-NE-SD PR CT SCAN,LUMBAR SPINE,W/O CONTRAST | $371.20 | $464.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| The Finley Hospital lowest Dubuque · Dubuque, IA PR CT SCAN,LUMBAR SPINE,W/O CONTRAST | $371.20 | $464.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Medical Center lowest Bettendorf · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL PR CT SCAN,LUMBAR SPINE,W/O CONTRAST | $371.20 | $464.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center lowest Fort Dodge · Fort Dodge, IA PR CT SCAN,LUMBAR SPINE,W/O CONTRAST | $371.20 | $464.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Unity Healthcare lowest Muscatine · Muscatine, IA PR CT SCAN,LUMBAR SPINE,W/O CONTRAST | $371.20 | $464.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical lowest Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA PR CT SCAN,LUMBAR SPINE,W/O CONTRAST | $371.20 | $464.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health Marshalltown lowest Marshalltown · Marshalltown, IA PR CT SCAN,LUMBAR SPINE,W/O CONTRAST | $371.20 | $464.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA CT Exam | $640.20 | $2,134.00 | Feb 15, 2026 source file |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HC CT LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $935.34 | $2,227.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinic West Union · West Union, IA HCHG 72131 CT SPINE L W/O IV CONT | $963.47 | $1,622.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Storm Lake · Storm Lake, IA HC CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $1,084.00 | $1,355.00 | — source file |
| Winneshiek Medical Center Decorah · Decorah, IA CT scan of lower spine without contrast | $1,096.90 | $1,567.00 | Jul 17, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL CT L-Spine wo Contrast | $1,258.80 | $2,098.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL CT Trauma L-Spine | $1,414.80 | $2,358.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center Dewitt · Clinton, IA CT L-Spine wo Contrast | $1,414.80 | $2,358.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC CT Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $1,498.25 | $2,305.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - Dubuque Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC CT Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $1,507.35 | $2,319.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa Corning · Corning, IA HC CT LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $1,508.16 | $3,142.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Central Community Hospital Elkader · Elkader, IA HC CT Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $1,517.10 | $2,334.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - Dyersville Dyersville · Dubuque, IA HC CT Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $1,517.10 | $2,334.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - New Hampton New Hampton · New Hampton, IA HC CT Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $1,517.10 | $2,334.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - Newton Newton · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC CT Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $1,517.10 | $2,334.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center Oelwein · Oelwein, IA HC CT Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $1,517.10 | $2,334.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital of Missouri Valley, Iowa Missouri Valley · Omaha, NE-IA HC CT LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $1,539.58 | $3,142.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City · Mason City, IA HC CT Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $1,571.05 | $2,417.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC CT Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $1,609.40 | $2,476.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sartori Memorial Hospital Cedar Falls · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC CT Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $1,609.40 | $2,476.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton · Clinton, IA HC CT Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $2,057.25 | $3,165.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital, Centerville Centerville · Centerville, IA HC CT Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $2,334.00 | $2,334.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon · Sheldon, IA CT LUMBAR SPINE WO CONT | $2,508.00 | $3,135.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Avera Holy Family Hospital Estherville · Estherville, IA | $2,693.69 | $2,777.00 | — source file |
| Avera Merrill Pioneer Rock Rapids · Rock Rapids, IA | $3,006.03 | $3,099.00 | — source file |
| Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa West Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC CT Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast | $4,083.00 | $4,083.00 | Mar 31, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 4 | $371.20 | $1,507.68 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3 | $371.20 | $1,258.80 |
| Dubuque, IA | 3 | $371.20 | $1,507.35 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 3 | $640.20 | $935.34 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 3 | $371.20 | $1,609.40 |
| Clinton, IA | 2 | $1,414.80 | $1,736.02 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $371.20 | $371.20 |
| Centerville, IA | 1 | $2,334.00 | $2,334.00 |
| Corning, IA | 1 | $1,508.16 | $1,508.16 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $371.20 | $371.20 |
| Decorah, IA | 1 | $1,096.90 | $1,096.90 |
| Elkader, IA | 1 | $1,517.10 | $1,517.10 |
| Estherville, IA | 1 | $2,693.69 | $2,693.69 |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $371.20 | $371.20 |
| Grinnell, IA | 1 | $371.20 | $371.20 |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $371.20 | $371.20 |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $1,571.05 | $1,571.05 |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $371.20 | $371.20 |
| New Hampton, IA | 1 | $1,517.10 | $1,517.10 |
| Oelwein, IA | 1 | $1,517.10 | $1,517.10 |
| Rock Rapids, IA | 1 | $3,006.03 | $3,006.03 |
| Sheldon, IA | 1 | $2,508.00 | $2,508.00 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $371.20 | $371.20 |
| Storm Lake, IA | 1 | $1,084.00 | $1,084.00 |
| West Union, IA | 1 | $963.47 | $963.47 |
What it is
This CT scan shows the bones of the lower back in detail. It is used after injuries and when an MRI is not possible.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the scan. The radiologist's reading may be billed separately.
CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) without contrast in other states
- Alabama$2,078.99
- Alaska$1,773.72
- Arizona$593.58
- Arkansas$1,167.88
- California$2,860.00
- Colorado$995.82
- Connecticut$881.93
- Delaware$2,301.41
- Florida$2,797.86
- Georgia$1,578.10
- Hawaii$1,389.00
- Idaho$819.00
- Illinois$1,649.40
- Indiana$1,018.10
- Kansas$1,321.25
- Kentucky$3,438.88
- Louisiana$763.56
- Maine$1,017.05
- Maryland$199.38
- Massachusetts$957.15
- Michigan$898.93
- Minnesota$912.46
- Mississippi$810.92
- Missouri$1,379.95
- Montana$1,421.42
- Nebraska$1,177.50
- Nevada$2,171.00
- New Hampshire$1,198.71
- New Jersey$174.95
- New Mexico$1,943.66
- New York$538.40
- North Carolina$1,504.05
- North Dakota$1,155.36
- Ohio$1,016.70
- Oklahoma$1,010.42
- Oregon$1,215.58
- Pennsylvania$900.00
- Puerto Rico$267.50
- Rhode Island$1,218.00
- South Carolina$1,282.45
- South Dakota$2,360.40
- Tennessee$598.42
- Texas$1,753.76
- Utah$1,633.76
- Vermont$2,041.03
- Virginia$1,447.80
- Washington$1,271.25
- West Virginia$862.00
- Wisconsin$1,088.02
- Wyoming$1,875.60
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.