How much does Lower back MRI (lumbar spine) cost in Austin?

Median insurer-negotiated rates range from $531 at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos to $3,757 at St. David's Round Rock Medical Center, based on the hospitals' own federally mandated price files.

Is it cheaper to pay cash than use insurance?

Sometimes. Several hospitals publish discounted cash prices below the rates insurers negotiate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the self-pay price.

Why do prices differ so much between hospitals?

Each hospital negotiates rates separately with each insurer, and hospitals in the same health system usually share one contract. The same procedure with the same insurer can cost several times more across town.

Costs · Imaging · Lower back MRI (lumbar spine) · Austin · code 72148

How much does a lower back MRI (lumbar spine) cost in Austin?

MRI scan of the lower spine without contrast — the usual test for chronic back pain or sciatica. Below: the rates insurers have actually negotiated with 16 Austin-area hospitals, and the cash (self-pay) prices where published — from the hospitals' own federally required price files.

$531

lowest median negotiated rate

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos

$3,757

highest (adult hospitals)

St. David's Round Rock Medical Center

7.1×

price spread

same procedure, same metro

Rates shown

Median negotiated rate per hospital · sorted low → high · hover a bar for the full receipt

cash (self-pay) price

Hospital	Gross charge	Cash price	Negotiated	Range	# rates	vs median

* Specialty hospital (pediatric or cancer center) — rates reflect specialty case mix. † Median based on fewer than 3 published rates — treat as indicative. Bars show the median dollar-denominated commercial negotiated rate; hospitals sharing a health-system contract show similar rates.

SOURCE: standard-charges files from 16 hospitals · file dates 2026-01-01 → 2026-06-13 · retrieved 2026-08-14

Paying cash can beat using insurance. At Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas, the self-pay price is $1,144 — less than the $1,365 median commercial-insurer rate. If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash rate.

Skipping the hospital? 16 independent imaging/outpatient centers in this area negotiate a median $293 all-in for this procedure (80 insurer rates) — less than the lowest hospital facility fee above ($531).

Balcones Imaging Consultants Pa — $55
Kyle Crossing Imaging Center — $58
San Marcos Medical Imaging Pllc — $65
Max Mehta — $66

All-in (global) negotiated fees from Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare's federally mandated Transparency-in-Coverage files, newest dated 2026-08-01; hospital bars above show the facility fee only — a physician fee is usually billed on top. Estimates — confirm with the provider.

← Lower back MRI (lumbar spine): overview