MRI lower back without contrast in Colorado
Below is what hospitals in Colorado charge if you pay cash, and the typical rate insurers negotiated.
Cash prices at 6 hospitals in Colorado run from $343 to $2,677. The typical hospital charges $1,133. Where a hospital sits on this scale matters more than the number alone:
typical: $1,133
Cheaper than most hospitalsPricier than most hospitals
8 hospitals. Sort by: Cash price ▲ · Negotiated median · Gross charge · Negotiated low
What these numbers mean.
Cash price is what the hospital lists for patients paying out of pocket.
Negotiated median is the middle of what insurance companies actually agreed to pay.
Gross charge is the sticker price — almost nobody pays it.
What you will actually pay is usually different from both numbers:
with insurance, your deductible, copay, or coinsurance decides what you owe —
the negotiated rate is what the insurer pays, not your bill.
A single line item may not be the whole cost: physician, anesthesia, pathology,
and facility fees can be billed separately.
Prices vary by hospital and change over time; always confirm with the hospital before you go.
| Hospital | Cash price | Where it sits | Insurance pays (typical) | Gross charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gunnison Valley Hospital CO · Price file July 10, 2026 | $343Insurance typically pays $374Sticker price $404 | Lowest price of any hospital | $374 | $404 |
| Montrose Regional Health CO · Price file July 13, 2026 | $943Insurance typically pays $270Sticker price $1,258 | Cheaper than 80% of hospitals | $270 | $1,258 |
| Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center CO · Price file August 1, 2026 | $1,049Insurance typically pays $1,049Sticker price $1,166 | Cheaper than 60% of hospitals | $1,049 | $1,166 |
| Rangely District Hospital CO · Price file September 24, 2026 | $1,217Insurance typically pays $470Sticker price $1,872 | Pricier than 60% of hospitals | $470 | $1,872 |
| Keefe Memorial Hospital CO | $2,230Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $3,186 | Pricier than 80% of hospitals | — | $3,186 |
| Centura Health-Penrose St Francis Health Services Colorado Springs, CO | $2,677Insurance typically pays $461Sticker price $6,692 | Highest price of any hospital | $461 | $6,692 |
| Sky Ridge Medical Center CO | —Insurance typically pays $518Sticker price — | — | $518 | — |
| Rose Medical Center CO | —Insurance typically pays $518Sticker price — | — | $518 | — |
Procedure code 72148. Prices are from each hospital's own published price file — see methodology.