Thoracic spine MRI cost in Louisiana
In Louisiana, 13 hospitals publish a cash price for MRI of the mid back (thoracic spine), no contrast dye: from $377.51 to $2,136.00, with a median of $871.02. The lowest price is at Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center (Independence). The highest price is 5.7× the lowest.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 72146. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 23, 2026.
Hospitals in Louisiana, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center lowest Independence · Hammond, LA MRI SCAN OF MIDDLE SPINAL CANAL WITHOUT CONTRAST | $377.51 | $629.19 | — source file |
| New Orleans East Hospital New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA MRI Scan of Middle Spinal Canal | $568.48 | $3,553.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| St. Frances Cabrini Hospital Alexandria · Alexandria, LA HC 72146 MRI T-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $598.00 | $2,300.00 | Jan 13, 2026 source file |
| University Med Center New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA MRI Scan of Middle Spinal Canal | $606.10 | $2,755.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Touro Infirmary New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA MRI Scan of Middle Spinal Canal | $749.56 | $5,354.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Jefferson Medical Center Marrero · New Orleans-Metairie, LA MRI Scan of Middle Spinal Canal | $767.52 | $4,797.00 | Jun 30, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Hospital New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA MRI Scan of Middle Spinal Canal | $871.02 | $3,226.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| East Jefferson General Hospital Metairie · New Orleans-Metairie, LA MRI Scan of Middle Spinal Canal | $1,263.50 | $9,025.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakeside Hospital Metairie · New Orleans-Metairie, LA MRI Scan of Middle Spinal Canal | $1,263.50 | $9,025.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakeview Hospital Covington · Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA MRI Scan of Middle Spinal Canal | $1,263.50 | $9,025.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Tulane Medical Center New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA MRI Scan of Middle Spinal Canal | $1,263.50 | $9,025.00 | Jun 25, 2026 source file |
| Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Natchitoches · Natchitoches, LA THORACIC W/O CONTRAST | $1,347.20 | $3,368.00 | Mar 18, 2026 source file |
| Hardtner Medical Center Olla · Olla, LA MRI Spine Thoracic w/o Contrast | $2,136.00 | $2,670.00 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 8 | $568.48 | $819.27 |
| Alexandria, LA | 1 | $598.00 | $598.00 |
| Hammond, LA | 1 | $377.51 | $377.51 |
| Natchitoches, LA | 1 | $1,347.20 | $1,347.20 |
| Olla, LA | 1 | $2,136.00 | $2,136.00 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | 1 | $1,263.50 | $1,263.50 |
What it is
An MRI of the thoracic spine makes detailed pictures of the middle section of the spine, between the neck and the lower back, including discs, vertebrae and the spinal cord. It is ordered for mid-back pain, suspected fractures or nerve symptoms. No contrast dye is used.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers the scan of the mid-back section only. The radiologist's reading is often billed separately.
MRI of the mid back (thoracic spine), no contrast dye in other states
- Alabama$2,093.22
- Alaska$2,642.99
- Arizona$726.38
- Arkansas$873.60
- California$2,665.50
- Colorado$952.42
- Connecticut$1,508.65
- Delaware$2,517.08
- Florida$2,504.71
- Georgia$1,762.41
- Hawaii$1,512.60
- Idaho$1,857.00
- Illinois$1,777.50
- Indiana$961.10
- Iowa$1,741.80
- Kansas$1,402.00
- Kentucky$3,225.02
- Maine$1,572.43
- Maryland$469.03
- Massachusetts$2,312.47
- Michigan$1,426.00
- Minnesota$1,240.46
- Mississippi$478.40
- Missouri$1,742.00
- Montana$1,787.00
- Nebraska$1,606.11
- Nevada$1,140.52
- New Hampshire$1,948.10
- New Jersey$322.54
- New Mexico$1,394.49
- New York$996.03
- North Carolina$2,013.08
- North Dakota$1,729.52
- Ohio$1,312.35
- Oklahoma$1,017.26
- Oregon$1,815.88
- Pennsylvania$2,054.32
- Puerto Rico$690.00
- Rhode Island$1,258.00
- South Carolina$2,960.00
- South Dakota$3,121.60
- Tennessee$705.00
- Texas$2,034.41
- Utah$1,934.60
- Vermont$2,996.25
- Virginia$2,000.00
- Washington$2,148.70
- West Virginia$1,381.00
- Wisconsin$1,702.85
- Wyoming$1,227.35
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.