Lower back MRI cost in Virginia
In Virginia, 66 hospitals publish a cash price for MRI of the lower back, no contrast dye: from $593.63 to $10,641.00, with a median of $2,000.00. The lowest price is at Dickenson Community Hospital (Clintwood) and 1 other hospital. The highest price is 17.9× the lowest.
- The median here, $2,000.00, is 5% above the US median of $1,902.72.
- That is 8.2× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($243.77).
- Virginia ranks 29th of 51 states by median, cheapest first.
- 13 of 66 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 1, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$593.63Dickenson Community Hospital + 1 more
Median$2,000.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$10,641.00in Virginia
Lowest saves$1,406.37vs the median
Hospitals in Virginia, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dickenson Community Hospital lowest Clintwood · Clintwood, VA HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $593.63 | $2,581.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Lee County Community Hospital lowest Pennington Gap · Pennington Gap, VA HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $593.63 | $2,581.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Johnston Memorial Hospital Abingdon · Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $604.95 | $4,033.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Lonesome Pine Hospital Big Stone Gap · Big Stone Gap, VA HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $604.95 | $4,033.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Russell County Hospital Lebanon · Lebanon, VA HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $604.95 | $4,033.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Smyth County Community Hospital Marion · Marion, VA HC MR SPINE LUMBAR WO CON | $604.95 | $4,033.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours Southampton Memorial Hospital Franklin · Roanoke, VA HC MRI-Spine Lumbar WO Contrast | $730.80 | $2,436.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Inova Alexandria Hospital Alexandria · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV HC MRI LUMB SPINE WO IV CONT | $835.00 | $1,670.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Fairfax · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV HC MRI LUMB SPINE WO IV CONT | $835.00 | $1,670.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Inova Fairfax Hospital Falls Church · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV HC MRI LUMB SPINE WO IV CONT | $835.00 | $1,670.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Inova Loudoun Hospital Leesburg · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV HC MRI LUMB SPINE WO IV CONT | $835.00 | $1,670.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Alexandria · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV HC MRI LUMB SPINE WO IV CONT | $835.00 | $1,670.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Augusta Health Fishersville · Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA Mri Spinal Canal Lumbar W/O Co | $906.50 | $1,813.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital Rocky Mt · Roanoke, VA HB MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,252.30 | $3,578.00 | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
| Carilion New River Valley Medical Center Christiansburg · Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA HB MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,252.30 | $3,578.00 | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
| Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital Roanoke · Roanoke, VA HB MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,252.30 | $3,578.00 | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
| Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital Roanoke · Roanoke, VA HB MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,252.30 | $3,578.00 | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Carilion Giles Community Hospital Roanoke · Roanoke, VA HB MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,258.25 | $3,595.00 | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
| Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital Lexington · Lexington, VA HB MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $1,258.25 | $3,595.00 | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
| Rappahannock General Hospital Kilmarnock · Kilmarnock, VA HC MRI-Spine Lumbar WO Contrast | $1,353.00 | $2,255.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Riverside Smithfield Hospital Smithfield · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MRI Spine Lumbar W/O Contrast | $1,430.63 | $2,861.25 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| Fauquier Health Warrenton · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; without contrast material | $1,685.20 | $4,213.00 | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital Charlottesville · Charlottesville, VA Chgr-Mr Lumbar Spine W / O Contrast | $1,735.50 | $3,471.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara RMH Medical Center Harrisonburg · Harrisonburg, VA Chgr-Mr Lumbar Spine W / O Contrast | $1,735.50 | $3,471.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Chesapeake General Hospital Chesapeake · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Hc Mri-Spine Lumbar Wo Contrast | $1,834.71 | $3,057.85 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Mary Washington Hospital Fredericksburg · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Mri lumbar spine w/o dye | $1,844.50 | $3,689.00 | Dec 30, 2024 source file |
| Stafford Hospital Stafford · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Mri lumbar spine w/o dye | $1,844.50 | $3,689.00 | Dec 30, 2024 source file |
| Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center Mechanicsville · Richmond, VA HC MRI-Spine Lumbar WO Contrast | $1,954.80 | $3,258.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital Richmond · Richmond, VA HC MRI-Spine Lumbar WO Contrast | $1,954.80 | $3,258.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours St Francis Medical Center Midlothian · Richmond, VA HC MRI-Spine Lumbar WO Contrast | $1,954.80 | $3,258.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours St Marys Hospital of Richmond Richmond · Richmond, VA HC MRI-Spine Lumbar WO Contrast | $1,954.80 | $3,258.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Hospital for Extended Recovery Norfolk · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Chgr-Mr Lumbar Spine W / O Contrast | $2,000.00 | $4,000.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Careplex Hospital Hampton · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Chgr-Mr Lumbar Spine W / O Contrast | $2,000.00 | $4,000.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Leigh Hospital Norfolk · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Chgr-Mr Lumbar Spine W / O Contrast | $2,000.00 | $4,000.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Norfolk · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Chgr-Mr Lumbar Spine W / O Contrast | $2,000.00 | $4,000.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center Woodbridge · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Chgr-Mr Lumbar Spine W / O Contrast | $2,000.00 | $4,000.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Obici Hospital Suffolk · Suffolk, VA Chgr-Mr Lumbar Spine W / O Contrast | $2,000.00 | $4,000.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Princess Anne Hospital Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Chgr-Mr Lumbar Spine W / O Contrast | $2,000.00 | $4,000.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Chgr-Mr Lumbar Spine W / O Contrast | $2,000.00 | $4,000.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital Tazewell · Bluefield, WV-VA HB MRI L-SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $2,016.70 | $5,762.00 | Dec 15, 2025 source file |
| Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital South Boston · South Boston, VA Chgr-Mr Lumbar Spine W / O Contrast | $2,130.00 | $4,260.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bath Community Hospital Hot Springs · Hot Springs, VA MRI SPINE LUM W/O CONTRAST,TECHNICAL COMPONENT | $2,176.62 | $3,109.45 | Mar 25, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours Harbour View Medical Center Suffolk · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC HC MRI-Spine Lumbar WO Contrast | $2,826.00 | $4,710.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center Portsmouth · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC HC MRI-Spine Lumbar WO Contrast | $2,826.00 | $4,710.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mary Immaculate Hospital Newport News · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC HC MRI-Spine Lumbar WO Contrast | $2,826.00 | $4,710.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Twin County Regional Healthcare Galax · Galax, VA Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; without contrast material | $2,986.22 | $7,465.55 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Sovah Health - Danville Danville · Danville, VA Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; without contrast material | $3,317.60 | $8,294.00 | Jul 11, 2026 source file |
| Sovah Health - Martinsville Martinsville · Martinsville, VA Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; without contrast material | $3,317.60 | $8,294.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Wythe County Community Hospital Wytheville · Wytheville, VA Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; without contrast material | $3,658.23 | $9,145.58 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Clinch Valley Health Richlands · Bluefield, WV-VA Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; without contrast material | $4,518.19 | $11,295.47 | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours Southern Virginia Medical Center Emporia · Emporia, VA HC MRI-Spine Lumbar WO Contrast | $4,669.20 | $15,564.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters Norfolk · Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MRI L-SPINE W/O | $4,849.62 | $5,388.47 | Mar 17, 2026 source file |
| Bon Secours Southside Medical Center Petersburg · Richmond, VA HC MRI-Spine Lumbar WO Contrast | $5,799.60 | $19,332.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Lewisgale Medical Center Roanoke · Roanoke, VA MRI L-SPINE W/O CONT | $6,017.00 | $6,017.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Lewisgale Hospital Montgomery Christiansburg · Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA MRI L-SPINE W/O CONT | $6,808.00 | $6,808.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Reston Hospital Center Reston · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; without contrast material | $7,495.26 | $7,495.26 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Stonesprings Hospital Center Dulles · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MRI L-SPINE W/O CONT | $7,497.38 | $7,497.38 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Chippenham Hospital Chesterfield · Richmond, VA Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; without contrast material | $7,811.00 | $7,811.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Henrico Doctors Hospital - Forest Mechanicsville · Richmond, VA Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; without contrast material | $7,811.00 | $7,811.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Johnston-Willis Hospital Richmond · Richmond, VA Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; without contrast material | $7,811.00 | $7,811.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Parham Doctors Hospital Richmond · Richmond, VA MRI L-SPINE W/O CONT | $7,811.00 | $7,811.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Retreat Doctors Hospital Richmond · Richmond, VA MRI L-SPINE W/O CONT | $7,811.00 | $7,811.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Tricities Hospital Prince George · Richmond, VA Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; without contrast material | $7,811.00 | $7,811.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center Fredericksburg · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MRI L-SPINE W/O CONT | $7,983.16 | $7,983.16 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Lewisgale Hospital Pulaski Pulaski · Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA MRI L-SPINE W/O CONT | $10,204.00 | $10,204.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Lewisgale Hospital Alleghany Low Moor · Low Moor, VA MRI L-SPINE W/O CONT | $10,641.00 | $10,641.00 | Sep 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 12 | $1,430.63 | $2,000.00 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 12 | $835.00 | $1,764.85 |
| Richmond, VA | 11 | $1,954.80 | $7,811.00 |
| Roanoke, VA | 6 | $730.80 | $1,252.30 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 3 | $1,252.30 | $6,808.00 |
| Bluefield, WV-VA | 2 | $2,016.70 | $3,267.44 |
| Big Stone Gap, VA | 1 | $604.95 | $604.95 |
| Clintwood, VA | 1 | $593.63 | $593.63 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 1 | $1,735.50 | $1,735.50 |
| Danville, VA | 1 | $3,317.60 | $3,317.60 |
| Emporia, VA | 1 | $4,669.20 | $4,669.20 |
| Galax, VA | 1 | $2,986.22 | $2,986.22 |
| Hot Springs, VA | 1 | $2,176.62 | $2,176.62 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 1 | $1,735.50 | $1,735.50 |
| Kilmarnock, VA | 1 | $1,353.00 | $1,353.00 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 1 | $604.95 | $604.95 |
| Lebanon, VA | 1 | $604.95 | $604.95 |
| Lexington, VA | 1 | $1,258.25 | $1,258.25 |
| Low Moor, VA | 1 | $10,641.00 | $10,641.00 |
| Marion, VA | 1 | $604.95 | $604.95 |
| Martinsville, VA | 1 | $3,317.60 | $3,317.60 |
| Pennington Gap, VA | 1 | $593.63 | $593.63 |
| South Boston, VA | 1 | $2,130.00 | $2,130.00 |
| Suffolk, VA | 1 | $2,000.00 | $2,000.00 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | 1 | $906.50 | $906.50 |
| Wytheville, VA | 1 | $3,658.23 | $3,658.23 |
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
- 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
- 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.