Average Medicaid MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Payments
Typical Medicaid MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) reimbursement across 2,069 cities
Avg. Medicaid Paid
$157.22
Price Range
$0.00 – $1,327
Total Claims
12.5M
Cities
2069
Typical Payment Range
Typical Medicaid MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) payments fall between $48.37 and $146.50 per claim (median: $74.16). The top 10% of payments exceed $247.35.
Based on per-provider averages across all Medicaid claims in this category.
About This Procedure
MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues. Common types include brain MRI, spine MRI, joint MRI, and abdominal MRI.
Why do these costs look low?
These figures represent Medicaid reimbursement rates — the amounts that state Medicaid programs actually paid providers. Medicaid typically reimburses significantly less than private insurance or out-of-pocket prices. If you have private insurance or are paying cash, expect higher costs. See the cost components below for per-code averages.
Costs by City
| City | Avg. Paid | Min / Max | Claims | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $168.32 | $0.00 – $788.77 | 50,885 | 92 |
| Flint, MI | $91.33 | $31.33 – $171.99 | 50,235 | 10 |
| Southfield, MI | $55.12 | $32.87 – $134.18 | 49,902 | 10 |
| Charlotte, NC | $56.71 | $25.19 – $912.98 | 47,413 | 81 |
| Charleston, SC | $224.55 | $16.69 – $566.59 | 46,170 | 32 |
| Knoxville, TN | $70.85 | $16.16 – $305.68 | 44,158 | 74 |
| Madison, WI | $75.80 | $2.10 – $196.18 | 43,409 | 47 |
| Rochester, NY | $237.84 | $32.90 – $386.99 | 43,379 | 55 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $103.77 | $10.61 – $609.33 | 43,129 | 93 |
| Loma Linda, CA | $282.15 | $3.07 – $1,080 | 42,509 | 23 |
| Dayton, OH | $119.54 | $30.62 – $354.41 | 42,052 | 36 |
| Saint Louis, MO | $91.34 | $25.04 – $1,963 | 41,401 | 115 |
| Fresno, CA | $24.39 | $0.00 – $305.29 | 41,196 | 30 |
| Mesa, AZ | $134.21 | $38.00 – $308.86 | 40,398 | 24 |
| Springfield, MA | $196.52 | $27.87 – $323.72 | 40,255 | 17 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $72.08 | $49.19 – $263.37 | 39,957 | 28 |
| Owings Mills, MD | $65.05 | $63.06 – $228.13 | 39,943 | 7 |
| Palm Desert, CA | $202.61 | $32.88 – $262.71 | 39,656 | 7 |
| Saginaw, MI | $71.49 | $40.31 – $124.52 | 38,695 | 6 |
| Merced, CA | $152.58 | $9.62 – $740.30 | 37,934 | 5 |
| New Orleans, LA | $107.21 | $36.47 – $1,118 | 37,308 | 62 |
| Norfolk, VA | $239.88 | $37.28 – $555.71 | 37,087 | 24 |
| East Brunswick, NJ | $102.88 | $41.57 – $367.84 | 36,642 | 28 |
| Akron, OH | $151.95 | $36.63 – $339.36 | 36,411 | 40 |
| Falls Church, VA | $143.27 | $32.34 – $279.19 | 36,281 | 8 |
| Ypsilanti, MI | $64.84 | $42.79 – $158.43 | 36,236 | 4 |
| Roanoke, VA | $168.13 | $22.51 – $324.44 | 35,969 | 17 |
| Greenville, SC | $327.81 | $24.76 – $1,213 | 35,652 | 51 |
| Palo Alto, CA | $198.35 | $5.52 – $707.38 | 35,538 | 19 |
| Portland, ME | $92.19 | $23.34 – $205.29 | 35,445 | 25 |
| Chapel Hill, NC | $70.70 | $29.69 – $875.36 | 35,150 | 35 |
| Orlando, FL | $76.73 | $3.68 – $317.67 | 35,055 | 69 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $196.05 | $45.20 – $332.70 | 34,569 | 26 |
| Farmington, CT | $143.80 | $30.00 – $183.98 | 33,385 | 13 |
| Little Rock, AR | $137.57 | $0.00 – $322.52 | 33,286 | 61 |
| Chappaqua, NY | $163.25 | $163.25 – $163.25 | 33,219 | 1 |
| Toledo, OH | $125.93 | $33.92 – $326.33 | 33,214 | 40 |
| Tacoma, WA | $143.18 | $19.85 – $418.36 | 32,951 | 49 |
| Greenville, NC | $88.61 | $29.76 – $1,276 | 31,899 | 28 |
| Manhasset, NY | $332.10 | $37.13 – $412.72 | 31,587 | 20 |
| Glendale, AZ | $185.88 | $33.73 – $308.64 | 31,233 | 21 |
| Iowa City, IA | $133.56 | $27.12 – $235.12 | 30,801 | 40 |
| Honolulu, HI | $251.56 | $28.63 – $807.54 | 29,980 | 37 |
| Oakland, CA | $423.26 | $4.91 – $862.03 | 29,807 | 36 |
| Memphis, TN | $80.25 | $10.62 – $679.21 | 29,781 | 44 |
| Kalamazoo, MI | $102.47 | $45.25 – $155.68 | 29,578 | 3 |
| Lansing, MI | $83.08 | $33.75 – $220.31 | 29,369 | 6 |
| Edgewood, KY | $116.96 | $25.11 – $246.78 | 28,990 | 13 |
| Shreveport, LA | $88.95 | $36.76 – $534.59 | 28,601 | 23 |
| Bangor, ME | $112.87 | $12.59 – $141.46 | 28,400 | 22 |
Cost Components
National averages for each billing code in this procedure category. Sorted by claim volume.
| Code | Description | Avg. Paid | Claims | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70553 | MRI brain w/o&w dye | $198.72 | 3,398,644 | 6,375 |
| 70551 | MRI brain w/o dye | $132.90 | 3,190,601 | 6,900 |
| 72148 | MRI lumbar spine w/o dye | $135.78 | 2,566,914 | 6,493 |
| 73721 | MRI jnt lower extrem w/o dye | $149.35 | 1,853,468 | 4,788 |
| 72141 | MRI neck spine w/o dye | $146.96 | 947,769 | 3,165 |
| 73221 | MRI joint upper extrem w/o dye | $143.68 | 561,369 | 2,116 |
| 74183 | MRI abdomen w/o&w dye | $213.24 | 460,046 | 1,608 |
| 72146 | MRI chest spine w/o dye | $165.71 | 107,193 | 506 |
| 72158 | MRI lumbar spine w/o&w dye | $156.12 | 101,358 | 428 |
| 72156 | MRI neck spine w/o&w dye | $201.54 | 94,551 | 354 |
| 72157 | MRI chest spine w/o&w dye | $176.21 | 51,471 | 211 |
| 73718 | MRI lower extremity w/o dye | $149.57 | 38,000 | 251 |
| 70543 | MRI face/neck w/o&w dye | $464.79 | 37,966 | 143 |
| 74181 | MRI abdomen w/o dye | $89.98 | 29,607 | 165 |
| 73720 | MRI lower extremity w/o&w dye | $121.14 | 7,737 | 68 |
| 73222 | MRI joint upper extrem w/dye | $146.32 | 4,393 | 31 |
| 73218 | MRI upper extremity w/o dye | $202.55 | 3,841 | 32 |
| 73723 | MRI jnt lower extrem w/o&w | $168.26 | 2,514 | 14 |
| 72142 | MRI neck spine w/dye | $476.30 | 2,123 | 9 |
| 70552 | MRI brain w/dye | $149.08 | 1,934 | 24 |
| 72147 | MRI chest spine w/dye | $512.55 | 1,662 | 8 |
| 72149 | MRI lumbar spine w/dye | $569.37 | 1,411 | 6 |
| 73220 | MRI upper extremity w/o&w dye | $62.78 | 781 | 8 |
| 73223 | MRI joint upper extrem w/o&w | $95.94 | 698 | 8 |
| 73722 | MRI jnt lower extrem w/dye | $52.35 | 653 | 4 |
| 70540 | MRI face/neck w/o dye | $209.97 | 138 | 3 |
| 71550 | MRI chest w/o dye | $48.32 | 106 | 2 |
| 77084 | MRI bone marrow imaging | $155.29 | 44 | — |
| 74182 | MRI abdomen w/dye | $128.07 | 26 | 2 |
| 70555 | fMRI brain by phys | $484.34 | 19 | 1 |
| 71552 | MRI chest w/o&w dye | $1,018 | 12 | 1 |
| 70542 | MRI face/neck w/dye | — | — | — |
| 70554 | fMRI brain by tech | — | — | — |
| 71551 | MRI chest w/dye | — | — | — |
| 72159 | MRI pelvis w/o dye | — | — | — |
| 73219 | MRI upper extremity w/dye | — | — | — |
| 73719 | MRI lower extremity w/dye | — | — | — |
These averages group common billing codes used when providers bill Medicaid for this procedure. Individual costs will vary.