Posted Price

MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine), without contrast at Boston Medical Center

CPT 72148 · Boston, MA

Cash price$1,815.30
Gross charge$4,034.00
Insurer rates$230.56 – $3,428.90

These are Boston Medical Center's own posted figures from its standard-charges file dated March 13, 2026. They are not a quote. Source: the hospital's file · its price transparency page.

Across 21 Massachusetts hospitals we index that post a cash price for this service: lowest $449.36, median $2,204.00, highest $6,654.80. See every hospital.

Nearby hospitals, same service

HospitalDistanceCash priceGross chargeFile date
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, MA
1.0 mi$1,141.70$1,631.002026-04-01
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, MA
1.3 mi$3,281.25$4,375.002026-03-27
New England Baptist Hospital
Boston, MA
1.4 mi$2,941.00$2,941.002026-04-01
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
1.8 mi$3,281.25$4,375.002026-03-27
The Shriners' Hospital for Children - Boston
Boston, MA
1.8 mi$6,654.80$6,654.802026-03-17
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA
1.8 mi$3,237.00$3,237.002026-04-01
Cambridge Health Alliance
Cambridge, MA
2.4 mi$2,467.00$2,467.002026-03-20
Brigham and Women Faulkner Hospital
Jamaica Plain, MA
3.0 mi$2,792.25$3,723.002026-03-27

Distances are straight-line from ZIP code centers. Each hospital's figures come from its own file; files are updated on different dates.

Every row for CPT 72148 in this hospital's file

Row in the hospital's fileSettingCashGrossInsurer min – max
HC Chg MRI Spinal Canal Lumbar W/O Contrast Material
line 22885
both$1,815.30$4,034.00$230.56 – $3,428.90

The first row is the one used above. A price for one code usually covers the hospital's facility charge only; the doctor, anesthesia, pathology and other services can be billed separately. Ask the hospital for a good faith estimate before a scheduled service: if you pay yourself and the bill comes in $400 or more above the estimate, you can dispute it under the No Surprises Act.

Check a bill from this hospital All Boston Medical Center prices