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All procedures

Lower back MRI with contrast

MRI scan of lower spinal canal with contrast

Radiology ServicesCPT 72149

Commercial insurance: Rate negotiated with a private insurer or employer plan, including exchange and public-option plans.

All hospitals we cover so far are in Washington; other states will appear here to compare as we add them.

Price estimate: Commercial insurance

Typical Commercial insurance rate$1,197middle of 38 hospitals
Lowest hospital$615
Highest hospital$3,752
Typical cash price$2,27039 hospitals

Typical range: $1,027 to $1,556. The middle half of the 38 hospitals we cover that list a Commercial insurance rate for this procedure. Each hospital below is labeled lower than, within or higher than this range.

Each hospital’s figure is the middle of the rates it lists, one per plan. Hospitals that list several separate lines for one plan or for their cash price are shown with their range and left out of these figures: the lines may be parts of one bill that you pay together. This is what hospitals published, not a quote.

Doctors usually bill separately. At most hospitals these are the hospital’s own charges. The surgeon, radiologist, anesthesiologist or pathologist usually sends a separate bill.

Estimate what you’d pay

Three questions turn each hospital’s Commercial insurance rate into your share. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.

Question 1 of 3

Have you met your deductible this year?

Your deductible is what you pay each year before your plan starts sharing costs. Your insurer’s app shows how much is left.

A rough estimate, not a quote. It leaves out copays, separate bills (such as the doctor or anesthesia), and whether a hospital is in your plan’s network. Your insurer can tell you your real cost.

Compare hospitals

50 hospitals with a Commercial insurance rate, cash price or list price; 44 of them list Commercial insurance rates. Lowest Commercial insurance rate first.

HospitalQuality (CMS)Commercial insurance rate (middle of plans)Compared with typicalCash priceList price (before discounts)
PeaceHealth Southwest Medical CenteVancouver, WA(360) 256-2000 3 of 5$615Middle of 6 plans; each plan sets its own price: $155 – $1,255Some plan prices here are below what Medicare pays; open the hospital to see which Lower than typical$2,202$3,388
Harborview Medical CenterSeattle, WA(206) 744-9535 2 of 5$727Middle of 4 plans; each plan sets its own price: $438 – $860 Lower than typical$2,629$3,756
PeaceHealth St John Medical CenterLongview, WA(360) 414-2000 4 of 5$838Middle of 4 plans; each plan sets its own price: $166 – $2,387Some plan prices here are below what Medicare pays; open the hospital to see which Lower than typical$2,202$3,388
Providence St Mary Medical CenterWalla Walla, WA(509) 522-5900 3 of 5$931Middle of 8 plans; each plan sets its own price: $341 – $2,407Some plan prices here are below what Medicare pays; open the hospital to see which Lower than typical$3,053$4,361
Swedish Edmonds HospitalEdmonds, WA(425) 640-4000 3 of 5$1,005Middle of 16 plans; each plan sets its own price: $596 – $1,909 Lower than typicalNot publishedNot published
Prov Sacred HRT Med Ctr & Childs Hosp.Spokane, WA(509) 474-3131 3 of 5$1,006Middle of 14 plans; each plan sets its own price: $657 – $2,353 Lower than typical$1,131 – $3,1674 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one$1,616 – $4,5244 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one
Capital Medical CenterOlympia, WA(360) 956-2550 3 of 5$1,011Middle of 20 plans; each plan sets its own price: $668 – $5,619 Lower than typical$2,644$6,610
Swedish IssaquahIssaquah, WA(425) 313-4000 4 of 5$1,012Middle of 16 plans; each plan sets its own price: $608 – $1,909 Lower than typical$1,064 – $2,1702 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one$2,216 – $4,5202 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one
EvergreenHealth Medical CenterKirkland, WA(425) 899-1000 5 of 5$1,024Middle of 27 plans; each plan sets its own price: $306 – $3,633Some plan prices here are below what Medicare pays; open the hospital to see which Lower than typical$3,125$3,906
Legacy Salmon Creek Medical CenterVancouver, WA(360) 487-1000 4 of 5$1,027Middle of 10 plans; each plan sets its own price: $333 – $1,578Some plan prices here are below what Medicare pays; open the hospital to see which Lower than typicalNot publishedNot published
Wellfound Behavioral Health HospitalTacoma, WA(253) 403-4565Not rated by CMS$1,027 TypicalNot publishedNot published
Kadlec Regional Medical CenterRichland, WA(509) 946-4611 4 of 5$1,044Middle of 9 plans; each plan sets its own price: $489 – $1,493 Typical$2,725 – $3,0282 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one$3,893 – $4,3252 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one
MultiCare Valley HospitalSpokane Valley, WA(509) 924-6650 5 of 5$1,089Middle of 16 plans; each plan sets its own price: $642 – $4,365 Typical$2,425$6,063
Deaconess Medical CenterSpokane, WA(509) 473-5800 3 of 5$1,118Middle of 16 plans; each plan sets its own price: $642 – $4,426 Typical$2,425$6,063
Cascade Medical CenterLeavenworth, WA(509) 548-5815Not rated by CMS$1,556Middle of 2 plans; each plan sets its own price: $847 – $2,265Includes the radiologist’s fee the hospital lists Typical$2,890Includes the radiologist’s fee the hospital lists$3,613Includes the radiologist’s fee the hospital lists
St Clare HospitalLakewood, WA(253) 588-1711 4 of 5$1,190Middle of 18 plans; each plan sets its own price: $769 – $5,215 Typical$2,004$6,953
St Francis Community HospitalFederal Way, WA(253) 944-8100 4 of 5$1,190Middle of 18 plans; each plan sets its own price: $755 – $5,215 Typical$2,182$6,953
St Joseph Medical CenterTacoma, WA(253) 627-4101 3 of 5$1,190Middle of 18 plans; each plan sets its own price: $777 – $5,215 Typical$2,303$6,953
Yakima Valley MemorialYakima, WA(509) 575-8000 1 of 5$1,197Middle of 19 plans; each plan sets its own price: $653 – $3,439 Typical$1,605$4,013
Swedish Medical Center / Cherry HillSeattle, WA(206) 320-2000 4 of 5$1,197Middle of 17 plans; each plan sets its own price: $606 – $1,757 Typical$1,064 – $2,1702 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one$2,216 – $4,5202 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one
St Anthony HospitalGig Harbor, WA(253) 530-2050 5 of 5$1,205Middle of 18 plans; each plan sets its own price: $769 – $5,215 Typical$2,115$6,953
Swedish Medical CenterSeattle, WA(206) 386-6000 4 of 5$1,225Middle of 23 plans; each plan sets its own price: $606 – $1,909 Typical$1,064 – $2,1702 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one$2,216 – $4,5202 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one
University of Washington Medical CtrSeattle, WA(206) 598-3300 4 of 5$1,241Middle of 13 plans; each plan sets its own price: $438 – $1,609 Typical$2,306$3,295
Highline Medical CenterBurien, WA(206) 431-5237 4 of 5$1,383Middle of 17 plans; each plan sets its own price: $755 – $6,258 Typical$2,123$6,953
Tacoma General Allenmore HospitalTacoma, WA(253) 403-1000 2 of 5$1,437Middle of 20 plans; each plan sets its own price: $673 – $2,767 Typical$1,516$3,791
MultiCare Auburn Medical CenterAuburn, WA(253) 833-7711 2 of 5$1,440Middle of 20 plans; each plan sets its own price: $669 – $2,767 Typical$1,516$3,791
MultiCare Covington Medical CenterCovington, WA(253) 372-7400 3 of 5$1,440Middle of 20 plans; each plan sets its own price: $669 – $2,767 Typical$1,516$3,791
MultiCare Good Samaritan HospitalPuyallup, WA(253) 697-2102 2 of 5$1,440Middle of 20 plans; each plan sets its own price: $673 – $2,767 Typical$1,516$3,791
Cascade Valley HospitalArlington, WA(360) 435-2133 4 of 5$1,595Middle of 11 plans; each plan sets its own price: $344 – $3,644Some plan prices here are below what Medicare pays; open the hospital to see which Higher than typical$3,239$4,049
Island HospitalAnacortes, WA(360) 299-1300 4 of 5$1,650Middle of 17 plans; each plan sets its own price: $329 – $2,068Some plan prices here are below what Medicare pays; open the hospital to see which Higher than typical$2,177$2,177
St Elizabeth HospitalEnumclaw, WA(360) 825-2505 5 of 5$1,725Middle of 17 plans; each plan sets its own price: $772 – $6,258 Higher than typical$2,457$6,953
PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical CenterBellingham, WA(360) 734-5400 4 of 5$1,762Middle of 2 plans; each plan sets its own price: $799 – $2,725 Higher than typical$2,270$3,493
Providence Centralia HospitalCentralia, WA(360) 330-8530 3 of 5$1,796Middle of 11 plans; each plan sets its own price: $683 – $2,820 Higher than typical$2,017$3,878
Mary Bridge Children's HospitalTacoma, WA(253) 403-1400Not rated by CMS$2,246Middle of 20 plans; each plan sets its own price: $690 – $3,282 Higher than typical$1,516$3,791
Olympic Medical CenterPort Angeles, WA(360) 417-7000 3 of 5$3,090Middle of 6 plans; each plan sets its own price: $1,867 – $3,340 Higher than typical$2,672$3,340
St Michael Medical CenterSilverdale, WA(360) 377-3911 4 of 5$3,359Middle of 18 plans; each plan sets its own price: $832 – $6,258 Higher than typical$3,069$6,953
EvergreenHealth MonroeMonroe, WA(360) 794-7497 3 of 5$3,636Middle of 17 plans; each plan sets its own price: $306 – $4,877Some plan prices here are below what Medicare pays; open the hospital to see which Higher than typical$4,195$5,244
Skagit Valley HospitalMount Vernon, WA(360) 424-4111 3 of 5$3,752Middle of 11 plans; each plan sets its own price: $571 – $4,478 Higher than typical$3,771$4,714
Coulee Medical CenterGrand Coulee, WA(509) 633-1753Not rated by CMSNot published—$2,902$3,225
Overlake Hospital Medical Center & ClinicsBellevue, WA(425) 688-5000 2 of 5$446 – $3,64324 separate lines; open the hospital to see each oneNot compared: several separate lines$1,252$2,504
PeaceHealth United General Medical CenterSedro Woolley, WA(360) 856-6021 3 of 5Not published—$2,204$3,391
Providence Holy Family HospitalSpokane, WA(509) 482-0111 3 of 5$467 – $1,44014 separate lines; open the hospital to see each oneNot compared: several separate lines$1,096 – $3,6043 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one$1,566 – $5,1493 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one
Providence Mount Carmel HospitalColville, WA(509) 684-2561 3 of 5Not published—$2,736$3,909
Providence Regional Medical Center EverettEverett, WA(425) 261-2000 4 of 5$477 – $1,60415 separate lines; open the hospital to see each oneNot compared: several separate lines$1,467$2,822
Providence St Joseph HospitalChewelah, WA(509) 935-8211Not rated by CMSNot published—$3,025$4,321
Providence St Peter HospitalOlympia, WA(360) 493-7179 3 of 5$341 – $2,13817 separate lines; open the hospital to see each oneSome lines are below what Medicare pays for the whole serviceNot compared: several separate lines$2,017$3,878
Seattle Children's HospitalSeattle, WA(206) 987-2000Not rated by CMS$142 – $3,149399 separate lines; open the hospital to see each oneNot compared: several separate lines$352 – $3,2804 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one$352 – $3,2805 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one
Three Rivers HospitalBrewster, WA(509) 689-2517Not rated by CMSNot published—$4,551Includes the radiologist’s fee the hospital lists$4,551Includes the radiologist’s fee the hospital lists
Virginia Mason Medical CenterSeattle, WA(206) 223-6600 5 of 5$8.87 – $2,36525 separate lines; open the hospital to see each oneSome lines are below what Medicare pays for the whole serviceNot compared: several separate lines$1,508$2,956
WhidbeyHealth Medical CenterCoupeville, WA(360) 678-5151 2 of 5Not published—$219 – $3,9033 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one$219 – $3,9033 separate lines; open the hospital to see each one

Reading these prices

  • A higher price does not mean better care. Quality stars come from CMS and are shown separately; they don’t go into the price labels.
  • A hospital can list several rates for the same procedure, one per plan; we show the middle of them. When one plan, or the cash price, has several separate lines, they may be parts of one bill (for example the hospital’s fee and the fee of the doctor who reads a scan) or alternatives (inpatient or outpatient). We show their range, don’t compare them yet, and list every line on the hospital’s page.
  • A very low rate can be one line item (for example, a supply charge), not the whole procedure.
  • Not published means the hospital’s own price file has no price of that kind for this service (some list insurer rates but leave the cash or list price blank). If you’re uninsured or paying yourself, ask the hospital for a Good Faith Estimate; federal law (No Surprises Act) requires one when you schedule or ask.

See a price that looks wrong? Tell us about it.

Doctors and practices

We don’t have doctor data for this procedure yet. CMS publishes what doctors bill Traditional Medicare by billing code, and no Washington doctor billed this one often enough for CMS to publish it (11 or more patients a year).