Lower back MRI cost in Alabama
In Alabama, 45 hospitals publish a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye: from $212.00 to $12,201.94, with a median of $1,596.76. The lowest price is at Riverview Regional Medical Center (Gadsden). The highest price is 57.6× the lowest.
- The median here, $1,596.76, is 16% below the US median of $1,902.72.
- That is 6.6× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($243.77).
- Alabama ranks 17th of 51 states by median, cheapest first.
- 15 of 45 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 72148. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 8, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$212.00Riverview Regional Medical Center
Median$1,596.76half of hospitals charge less
Highest$12,201.94in Alabama
Lowest saves$1,384.76vs the median
Hospitals in Alabama, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverview Regional Medical Center lowest Gadsden · Gadsden, AL Hc Mri, Lumbar Spine | $212.00 | $11,654.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Troy Regional Medical Center Troy · Troy, AL MR L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $270.00 | $1,400.00 | Dec 31, 2024 source file |
| East Alabama Medical Center Opelika · Auburn-Opelika, AL MRI Spine Lumbar Without Contrast | $270.60 | $492.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Medical Center Barbour Eufaula · Eufaula, AL-GA MRI LUMBAR W/O | $388.00 | $776.00 | Mar 29, 2026 source file |
| Monroe County Hospital Monroeville · Monroeville, AL MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $560.46 | $1,401.15 | Mar 2, 2026 source file |
| Southeast Health Medical Center Dothan · Dothan, AL MRI SCAN OF LOWER SPINAL CANAL WITHOUT CONTRAST | $717.18 | $1,792.94 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Whitfield Regional Hospital Demopolis · Demopolis, AL MRI Lumbar W/O Contrast | $720.00 | $1,200.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Children's Hospital of Alabama Birmingham · Birmingham, AL HC Lumbar, MR | $893.08 | $2,076.92 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| The Children's Hospital of Alabama – Benjamin Russell Hospital Birmingham · Birmingham, AL HC Lumbar, MR | $893.08 | $2,076.92 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Coosa Valley Medical Center Sylacauga · Talladega-Sylacauga, AL MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $956.00 | $3,985.00 | — source file |
| Evergreen Medical Center Evergreen · Evergreen, AL MRI LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST 72148 | $1,092.00 | $1,680.00 | Sep 2, 2026 source file |
| Russellville Hospital Russellville · Russellville, AL MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO | $1,231.49 | $4,736.50 | Jul 31, 2026 source file |
| Highlands Medical Center Scottsboro · Scottsboro, AL MRI SCAN OF LOWER SPINAL CANAL WITHOUT CONTRAST | $1,316.70 | $1,881.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Medical Center Enterprise Enterprise · Enterprise, AL MR-LUMB SPINE WO | $1,348.68 | $14,985.36 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Floyd Cherokee Medical Center Centre · Centre, AL HC MRI SPINAL CANAL LUMBAR W/O CONTRAST MATERIAL | $1,381.50 | $2,763.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Marion Regional Medical Center Hamilton · Hamilton, AL HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE - MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $1,417.71 | $3,297.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| North Mississippi Health Services-South Marion Winfield · Winfield, AL HC MRI LUMBAR SPINE - MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $1,417.71 | $3,297.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Cullman Regional Medical Center Cullman · Cullman, AL MRI Spine Lumbar w/o Contrast | $1,503.98 | $2,804.32 | Jan 19, 2026 source file |
| Dch Regional Medical Center Tuscaloosa · Tuscaloosa, AL MR LUMBAR SPINE | $1,516.88 | $3,033.75 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Fayette Medical Center Fayette · Fayette, AL MR LUMBAR SPINE | $1,516.88 | $3,033.75 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Medical Center East Montgomery · Montgomery, AL F-MR LUMB-SPINE MRI W/O CONTRAST | $1,558.77 | $2,597.95 | Dec 30, 2025 source file |
| Baptist Medical Center South Montgomery · Montgomery, AL XMR LUMBAR SAGITTAL W/O | $1,558.77 | $2,597.95 | Dec 30, 2025 source file |
| Ochsner Choctaw General Butler · Butler, AL HC MRI SPINE LUMBAR WITHOUT CONTRAST | $1,596.76 | $2,101.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Flowers Hospital Dothan · Dothan, AL MR-LUMB SPINE WO | $1,607.70 | $10,718.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Grandview Medical Center Birmingham · Birmingham, AL MR-LUMB SPINE WO | $1,623.75 | $10,825.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Springhill Memorial Hospital Mobile · Mobile, AL LUMBAR W/O CONT | $1,819.83 | $2,140.98 | Apr 2, 2026 source file |
| Baldwin Health Foley · Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL MR-LUMB SPINE WO | $1,853.23 | $10,295.72 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Marshall Medical Center North Guntersville · Albertville, AL MR-LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTR | $1,864.50 | $1,864.50 | Apr 13, 2026 source file |
| Marshall Medical Centers Boaz · Albertville, AL MR-LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTR | $1,864.50 | $1,864.50 | Apr 13, 2026 source file |
| Bullock County Hospital Union Springs · Union Springs, AL MRI MRI LUMBAR SPINE WO CONTRAST | $2,050.00 | $2,050.00 | Nov 24, 2024 source file |
| UAB Medical West Bessemer · Birmingham, AL MRI L-Spine wo/Cont | $2,203.50 | $2,938.00 | Jun 22, 2026 source file |
| Gadsden Regional Medical Center Gadsden · Gadsden, AL MR-LUMB SPINE WO | $2,584.72 | $21,539.34 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Crestwood Medical Center Huntsville · Huntsville, AL MR-LUMB SPINE WO | $2,629.06 | $14,605.90 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Athens Limestone Hospital Athens · Huntsville, AL MR LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $3,226.00 | $3,226.00 | Mar 25, 2026 source file |
| DeKalb Regional Medical Center Fort Payne · Fort Payne, AL MR LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $3,226.00 | $3,226.00 | Aug 20, 2026 source file |
| Decatur Morgan Hospital West Decatur · Decatur, AL MRI-LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $3,564.00 | $3,564.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Decatur Morgan Hospital - Decatur Campus Decatur · Decatur, AL MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $3,564.00 | $3,564.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Decatur Morgan Hospital - Parkway Campus Decatur · Decatur, AL MRI-LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $3,564.00 | $3,564.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Helen Keller Hospital Sheffield · Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL MR-LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTR | $3,937.00 | $3,937.00 | Mar 27, 2026 source file |
| Red Bay Hospital Red Bay · Russellville, AL MR-LUMBAR SPINE W/O CONTR | $3,937.00 | $3,937.00 | Mar 27, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Citizens Hospital Talladega · Talladega-Sylacauga, AL Hb Mri, Lumbar Spine - Mri Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast | $10,873.00 | $10,873.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Princeton Hospital Birmingham · Birmingham, AL Hb Mri, Lumbar Spine - Mri Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast | $10,873.00 | $10,873.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Shelby Hospital Alabaster · Birmingham, AL Hb Mri, Lumbar Spine - Mri Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast | $10,873.00 | $10,873.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Walker Hospital Jasper · Birmingham, AL Hb Mri, Lumbar Spine - Mri Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast | $10,873.00 | $10,873.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital Birmingham · Birmingham, AL Hb Mri, Lumbar Spine - Mri Lumbar Spine Wo Contrast | $12,201.94 | $12,201.94 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 8 | $893.08 | $6,538.25 |
| Decatur, AL | 3 | $3,564.00 | $3,564.00 |
| Albertville, AL | 2 | $1,864.50 | $1,864.50 |
| Dothan, AL | 2 | $717.18 | $1,162.44 |
| Gadsden, AL | 2 | $212.00 | $1,398.36 |
| Huntsville, AL | 2 | $2,629.06 | $2,927.53 |
| Montgomery, AL | 2 | $1,558.77 | $1,558.77 |
| Russellville, AL | 2 | $1,231.49 | $2,584.24 |
| Talladega-Sylacauga, AL | 2 | $956.00 | $5,914.50 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | 1 | $270.60 | $270.60 |
| Butler, AL | 1 | $1,596.76 | $1,596.76 |
| Centre, AL | 1 | $1,381.50 | $1,381.50 |
| Cullman, AL | 1 | $1,503.98 | $1,503.98 |
| Demopolis, AL | 1 | $720.00 | $720.00 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 1 | $1,853.23 | $1,853.23 |
| Evergreen, AL | 1 | $1,092.00 | $1,092.00 |
| Enterprise, AL | 1 | $1,348.68 | $1,348.68 |
| Eufaula, AL-GA | 1 | $388.00 | $388.00 |
| Fayette, AL | 1 | $1,516.88 | $1,516.88 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 1 | $3,937.00 | $3,937.00 |
| Fort Payne, AL | 1 | $3,226.00 | $3,226.00 |
| Hamilton, AL | 1 | $1,417.71 | $1,417.71 |
| Monroeville, AL | 1 | $560.46 | $560.46 |
| Mobile, AL | 1 | $1,819.83 | $1,819.83 |
| Scottsboro, AL | 1 | $1,316.70 | $1,316.70 |
| Troy, AL | 1 | $270.00 | $270.00 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 1 | $1,516.88 | $1,516.88 |
| Union Springs, AL | 1 | $2,050.00 | $2,050.00 |
| Winfield, AL | 1 | $1,417.71 | $1,417.71 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What lower back MRI is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Lower back MRI explained.
MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye in other states
- Alaska$3,437.78
- Arizona$1,752.45
- Arkansas$891.78
- California$3,060.69
- Colorado$2,164.66
- Connecticut$1,437.00
- Delaware$2,452.48
- District of Columbia$2,013.00, 3 hospitals
- Florida$3,699.50
- Georgia$1,713.00
- Hawaii$1,531.60
- Idaho$1,557.45
- Illinois$2,881.44
- Indiana$1,016.72
- Iowa$2,371.13
- Kansas$1,240.13
- Kentucky$1,725.03
- Louisiana$1,032.62
- Maine$1,419.25
- Maryland$495.14
- Massachusetts$1,805.25
- Michigan$1,806.88
- Minnesota$2,036.24
- Mississippi$1,302.62
- Missouri$1,861.45
- Montana$1,753.00
- Nebraska$3,216.00
- Nevada$2,308.53
- New Hampshire$2,455.25
- New Jersey$591.91
- New Mexico$2,038.78
- New York$1,307.22
- North Carolina$2,227.59
- North Dakota$1,934.90
- Ohio$1,666.80
- Oklahoma$1,264.00
- Oregon$1,870.75
- Pennsylvania$1,790.00
- Puerto Rico$725.00
- Rhode Island$2,250.00
- South Carolina$2,193.60
- South Dakota$3,269.60
- Tennessee$984.54
- Texas$2,190.02
- Utah$4,273.11
- Vermont$3,576.90
- Virginia$2,000.00
- Washington$2,100.33
- West Virginia$1,350.75
- Wisconsin$2,210.00
- Wyoming$2,274.75
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.