Lower back MRI cost in Nebraska
In Nebraska, 51 hospitals publish a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye: from $500.00 to $5,871.00, with a median of $3,216.00. The lowest price is at Midwest Surgical Hospital (Omaha). The highest price is 11.7× the lowest.
- The median here, $3,216.00, is 69% above the US median of $1,902.72.
- That is 13.2× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($243.77).
- Nebraska ranks 46th of 51 states by median, cheapest first.
- 13 of 51 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 6, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$500.00Midwest Surgical Hospital
Median$3,216.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$5,871.00in Nebraska
Lowest saves$2,716.00vs the median
Hospitals in Nebraska, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest Surgical Hospital lowest Omaha · Omaha, NE-IA MRI SCAN OF LOWER SPINAL CANAL WITHOUT CONTRAST | $500.00 | $1,790.00 | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Nebraska Methodist Hospital Omaha · Omaha, NE-IA MRI Exam | $1,080.36 | $3,001.00 | Feb 14, 2026 source file |
| Bellevue Medical Center Bellevue · Omaha, NE-IA MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $1,121.25 | $1,725.00 | Aug 10, 2026 source file |
| Nebraska Medical Center Omaha · Omaha, NE-IA MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $1,121.25 | $1,725.00 | Aug 10, 2026 source file |
| Banner Ogallala Community Hospital Ogallala · Ogallala, NE MRI SPINE LUMBAR WO CNT | $1,430.03 | $2,170.00 | Oct 13, 2026 source file |
| Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center Lincoln · Lincoln, NE HC MR LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $1,443.84 | $3,008.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Immanuel Medical Center Omaha · Omaha, NE-IA HC MR LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $1,458.56 | $3,392.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| CHI Health Bergan Mercy Omaha · Omaha, NE-IA HC MR LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $1,458.56 | $3,392.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| CHI Health Lakeside Omaha · Omaha, NE-IA HC MR LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $1,458.56 | $3,392.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| CHI Health Midlands Papillion · Omaha, NE-IA HC MR LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $1,458.56 | $3,392.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Saint Francis Medical Center Grand Island · Grand Island, NE HC MR LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $1,672.16 | $2,986.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Providence Medical Center Wayne · Wayne, NE MRI Spine Lumbar w/o Cont | $1,977.95 | $2,327.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Good Samaritan Hospital Kearney · Kearney, NE HC MR LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $2,374.52 | $4,094.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Fremont Health Fremont · Fremont, NE MRI Exam | $2,506.38 | $6,774.00 | Feb 16, 2026 source file |
| Chadron Community Hospital Chadron · Chadron, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $2,589.00 | $3,698.00 | — source file |
| Pawnee County Memorial Hospital Pawnee City · Pawnee City, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $2,655.00 | $3,319.00 | — source file |
| Memorial Community Hospital Blair · Omaha, NE-IA MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $2,666.96 | $3,333.70 | Jul 15, 2026 source file |
| Kearney County Hospital Minden · Kearney, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $2,794.00 | $3,492.00 | — source file |
| Memorial Health Care Systems Seward · Lincoln, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $2,940.00 | $2,940.00 | Jul 15, 2026 source file |
| Garden County Health Services Oshkosh · Oshkosh, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $2,941.00 | $4,325.00 | — source file |
| Saunders Medical Center Wahoo · Omaha, NE-IA MRI Spine Lumbar w/o Contrast | $3,074.25 | $4,099.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Regional West Medical Center Scottsbluff · Scottsbluff, NE HB RADIANT-MR L-SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST | $3,128.40 | $5,214.00 | Mar 17, 2026 source file |
| St. Mary's Community Hospital Nebraska City · Nebraska City, NE HC MR LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $3,187.34 | $3,887.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Beatrice Community Hospital Beatrice · Beatrice, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $3,200.00 | $3,200.00 | — source file |
| Columbus Community Hospital Columbus · Columbus, NE MRI SCAN OF LOWER SPINAL CANAL WITHOUT CONTRAST | $3,201.50 | $3,370.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Cozad Community Hospital Cozad · Lexington, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $3,216.00 | $3,573.00 | — source file |
| West Holt Memorial Hospital Atkinson · Atkinson, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $3,273.00 | $4,091.00 | — source file |
| Harlan County Health System Alma · Alma, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $3,300.80 | $4,126.00 | Oct 15, 2026 source file |
| Kimball County Hospital Kimball · Kimball, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $3,346.49 | $3,346.49 | Oct 12, 2026 source file |
| Lexington Regional Health Center Lexington · Lexington, NE MRI Spine Lumbar w/o Contrast | $3,358.08 | $3,498.00 | Dec 28, 2025 source file |
| Gothenburg Health Gothenburg · Lexington, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $3,465.00 | $3,850.00 | — source file |
| Community Hospital - McCook McCook · McCook, NE LUMBAR SPINE | $3,466.80 | $3,852.00 | Dec 27, 2025 source file |
| Box Butte General Hospital Alliance · Alliance, NE MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O DYE | $3,472.00 | $4,340.00 | Aug 18, 2026 source file |
| Callaway District Hospital Callaway · Callaway, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $3,530.00 | $3,922.00 | — source file |
| Rock County Hospital Bassett · Bassett, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $3,547.00 | $3,734.00 | — source file |
| Valley County Hospital Ord · Ord, NE MRI LUMBAR SPINE WITHOUT | $3,573.90 | $3,971.00 | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Nemaha County Hospital Auburn · Auburn, NE MR L SPINE W/O CONT | $3,686.00 | $3,686.00 | Jun 1, 2026 source file |
| Tri Valley Health System Cambridge · Cambridge, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $3,688.20 | $4,098.00 | Oct 2, 2026 source file |
| York General Hospital York · York, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $3,723.75 | $3,723.75 | Jul 22, 2026 source file |
| Nebraska Spine Hospital Omaha · Omaha, NE-IA HC MR LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $3,834.00 | $3,834.00 | Jul 20, 2026 source file |
| Mary Lanning Healthcare Hastings · Hastings, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $3,871.09 | $4,301.21 | Oct 14, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Memorial Hospital, Schuyler Schuyler · Columbus, NE HC MR LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $3,959.78 | $4,829.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Howard County Medical Center St. Paul · Grand Island, NE All Outpatient Services | $4,042.00 | $4,042.00 | Oct 14, 2026 source file |
| Gordon Memorial Hospital Gordon · Gordon, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $4,050.00 | $4,050.00 | — source file |
| Phelps Memorial Health Center Holdrege · Holdrege, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $4,079.70 | $4,533.00 | Feb 16, 2026 source file |
| Syracuse Area Health Syracuse · Syracuse, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $4,111.00 | $4,111.00 | — source file |
| Butler County Health David City · David City, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $4,141.00 | $4,141.00 | — source file |
| CHI Health Plainview Hospital Plainview · Norfolk, NE HC MR LUMBAR WO CONTRAST | $4,152.94 | $4,829.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Osmond General Hospital Osmond · Norfolk, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal without contrast | $4,700.00 | $4,700.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Chase County Hospital Imperial · Imperial, NE MRI scan of lower spinal canal | $5,421.00 | $5,421.00 | — source file |
| St Francis Memorial Hospital West Point · West Point, NE MRI Spine Lumbar w/o Cont | $5,871.00 | $5,871.00 | Mar 18, 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | 11 | $500.00 | $1,458.56 |
| Lexington, NE | 3 | $3,216.00 | $3,358.08 |
| Columbus, NE | 2 | $3,201.50 | $3,580.64 |
| Grand Island, NE | 2 | $1,672.16 | $2,857.08 |
| Kearney, NE | 2 | $2,374.52 | $2,584.26 |
| Lincoln, NE | 2 | $1,443.84 | $2,191.92 |
| Norfolk, NE | 2 | $4,152.94 | $4,426.47 |
| Alliance, NE | 1 | $3,472.00 | $3,472.00 |
| Alma, NE | 1 | $3,300.80 | $3,300.80 |
| Atkinson, NE | 1 | $3,273.00 | $3,273.00 |
| Auburn, NE | 1 | $3,686.00 | $3,686.00 |
| Bassett, NE | 1 | $3,547.00 | $3,547.00 |
| Beatrice, NE | 1 | $3,200.00 | $3,200.00 |
| Callaway, NE | 1 | $3,530.00 | $3,530.00 |
| Cambridge, NE | 1 | $3,688.20 | $3,688.20 |
| Chadron, NE | 1 | $2,589.00 | $2,589.00 |
| David City, NE | 1 | $4,141.00 | $4,141.00 |
| Fremont, NE | 1 | $2,506.38 | $2,506.38 |
| Gordon, NE | 1 | $4,050.00 | $4,050.00 |
| Holdrege, NE | 1 | $4,079.70 | $4,079.70 |
| Hastings, NE | 1 | $3,871.09 | $3,871.09 |
| Imperial, NE | 1 | $5,421.00 | $5,421.00 |
| Kimball, NE | 1 | $3,346.49 | $3,346.49 |
| McCook, NE | 1 | $3,466.80 | $3,466.80 |
| Nebraska City, NE | 1 | $3,187.34 | $3,187.34 |
| Ogallala, NE | 1 | $1,430.03 | $1,430.03 |
| Ord, NE | 1 | $3,573.90 | $3,573.90 |
| Oshkosh, NE | 1 | $2,941.00 | $2,941.00 |
| Pawnee City, NE | 1 | $2,655.00 | $2,655.00 |
| Scottsbluff, NE | 1 | $3,128.40 | $3,128.40 |
| Syracuse, NE | 1 | $4,111.00 | $4,111.00 |
| Wayne, NE | 1 | $1,977.95 | $1,977.95 |
| West Point, NE | 1 | $5,871.00 | $5,871.00 |
| York, NE | 1 | $3,723.75 | $3,723.75 |
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
- Alabama$1,596.76
- 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
- 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.