MRI, lower back, without contrast
CPT 72148 · 9 Montana hospitals · published prices from $658 to $3,420
| Hospital | List price | Self-pay price | What insurers pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Horn County Memorial HospitalHardin | $823 | $658 | $214 – $798median $741 · 56 payers |
| Sidney Health CenterSidney | $1,416 | $877 | $179 – $1,416median $336 · 48 payers |
| Beartooth Billings ClinicRed Lodge | $1,670 | none published | – |
| Clark Fork Valley HospitalPlains | $2,024 | $2,024 | $208 – $2,024median $2,024 · 5 payers |
| Livingston HealthCareLivingston | $2,191 | $2,081 | $79 – $2,191median $327 · 84 payers |
| Barrett Hospital & HealthCareDillon | $2,207 | $2,097 | $1,183 – $2,207median $2,097 · 15 payers |
| Great Falls Clinic Medical CenterGreat Falls | $2,426 | $2,426 | $243 – $546median $461 · 12 payers |
| Marcus Daly Memorial HospitalHamilton | $2,538 | $2,538 | $81 – $2,538median $1,268 · 10 payers |
| Community Medical CenterMissoula | $3,420 | none published | $540 – $540median $540 · 14 payers |
Worth noticing. At Great Falls Clinic Medical Center, a self-payer is asked $2,426 for this. No insurer pays that hospital more than $546 for the same code, 4.4 times less than the self-pay price.
Before you book this
Say you are self-pay
Before you are treated, not after. It is what unlocks the self-pay rate.
Get it in writing
You are entitled to a Good Faith Estimate for anything scheduled three or more business days out.
Check the bill
Ask for the itemised bill and check it before you pay.
Common questions
Why is the list price so much higher than what insurers pay?
The list price, or chargemaster rate, is close to a fiction. Almost nobody pays it. It exists as a starting point for negotiation, which is why the negotiated column is usually a fraction of it. The problem is that an uninsured person is often quoted the list price.
What is a self-pay price?
The discounted rate a hospital publishes for people paying directly rather than through a plan. Hospitals are required to publish one if they have one. Several Montana hospitals publish a self-pay price identical to their list price, which is worth knowing before you agree to it.
Can I ask for a better price?
Yes. Say you are self-pay before you are treated, ask for the self-pay rate in writing, and ask for a Good Faith Estimate. If the bill has already arrived, check whether you qualify for the hospital's financial assistance program before paying anything.
How current are these?
Extracted from the hospitals' published files in August 2026. Hospitals update on their own schedules, so follow the source link for the current file.
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