MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine), without contrast at St. Louis Childrens Hospital
CPT 72148 · Saint Louis, MO
These are St. Louis Childrens Hospital's own posted figures from its standard-charges file dated December 15, 2025. They are not a quote. Source: the hospital's file · its price transparency page.
Across 14 Missouri hospitals we index that post a cash price for this service: lowest $1,370.20, median $1,532.90, highest $3,476.40. See every hospital.
Nearby hospitals, same service
| Hospital | Distance | Cash price | Gross charge | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes Jewish Hospital Saint Louis, MO | 0.0 mi | $1,407.60 | $2,346.00 | 2025-12-15 |
| Christian Hospital Northeast Saint Louis, MO | 8.3 mi | $1,422.60 | $2,371.00 | 2025-12-15 |
| Missouri Baptist Medical Center Saint Louis, MO | 9.4 mi | $1,422.60 | $2,371.00 | 2025-12-15 |
| Mercy Hospital St. Louis Saint Louis, MO | 10.4 mi | $2,141.10 | $3,294.00 | 2026-06-04 |
| Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital Creve Coeur, MO | 10.4 mi | $1,422.60 | $2,371.00 | 2025-12-15 |
| Gateway Regional Medical Center Granite City, IL | 11.0 mi | $429.59 | $715.99 | 2026-03-30 |
| Mercy Hospital South Saint Louis, MO | 11.3 mi | $1,643.20 | $2,528.00 | 2026-06-10 |
| Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital Maryland Heights, MO | 12.4 mi | $1,974.72 | $2,468.40 | 2026-04-24 |
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 file | Setting | Cash | Gross | Insurer min – max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HC MRI Lumbar Spn W/O Cont|REDUCED SERVICES standard_charge_information[17752] | both | $3,476.40 | $5,794.00 | $234.83 – $3,766.10 |
| HC MRI Lumbar Spn W/O Cont standard_charge_information[17753] | both | $3,476.40 | $5,794.00 | $234.83 – $4,924.90 |
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 St. Louis Childrens Hospital prices