MRI lower back without contrast in Louisiana
Below is what hospitals in Louisiana charge if you pay cash, and the typical rate insurers negotiated.
Cash prices at 13 hospitals in Louisiana run from $162 to $4,400. The typical hospital charges $1,264. Where a hospital sits on this scale matters more than the number alone:
typical: $1,264
Cheaper than most hospitalsPricier than most hospitals
15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Carroll Parish Hospital LA · Price file September 18, 2026 | $162Insurance typically pays $183Sticker price $216 | Lowest price of any hospital | $183 | $216 |
| Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital Of Shreve Baton Rouge, LA | $828Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $1,104 | Cheaper than 92% of hospitals | — | $1,104 |
| Our Lady Of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Inc LA · Price file October 26, 2026 | $946Insurance typically pays $445Sticker price $1,893 | Cheaper than 83% of hospitals | $445 | $1,893 |
| Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital Of Alexan Baton Rouge, LA | $1,075Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $1,433 | Cheaper than 75% of hospitals | — | $1,433 |
| Our Lady Of The Lake Regional Medical Center LA · Price file October 26, 2026 | $1,096Insurance typically pays $1,831Sticker price $2,193 | Cheaper than 67% of hospitals | $1,831 | $2,193 |
| Franklin Foundation Hospital LA · Price file September 15, 2026 | $1,132Insurance typically pays $1,123Sticker price $1,617 | Cheaper than 58% of hospitals | $1,123 | $1,617 |
| East Jefferson General Hospital Metairie, LA · Price file July 1, 2026 | $1,264Insurance typically pays $1,805Sticker price $9,025 | Cheaper than 50% of hospitals | $1,805 | $9,025 |
| Our Lady Of The Angels Hospital LA · Price file October 26, 2026 | $1,610Insurance typically pays $2,026Sticker price $3,219 | Pricier than 58% of hospitals | $2,026 | $3,219 |
| St Francis Medical Center LA · Price file October 26, 2026 | $1,791Insurance typically pays $2,866Sticker price $3,582 | Pricier than 67% of hospitals | $2,866 | $3,582 |
| Baton Rouge General Medical Center LA | $1,936Insurance typically pays $410Sticker price $2,765 | Pricier than 75% of hospitals | $410 | $2,765 |
| Richland Parish Hospital-delhi LA · Price file October 27, 2026 | $2,038Insurance typically pays $719Sticker price $3,135 | Pricier than 83% of hospitals | $719 | $3,135 |
| Iberia Medical Center LA | $2,124Insurance typically pays $455Sticker price $3,540 | Pricier than 92% of hospitals | $455 | $3,540 |
| Caldwell Memorial Hospital, Inc LA | $4,400Insurance typically pays $116Sticker price $4,400 | Highest price of any hospital | $116 | $4,400 |
| St James Parish Hospital LA · Price file April 1, 2026 | —Insurance typically pays $550Sticker price — | — | $550 | — |
| Rapides Regional Medical Center LA | —Insurance typically pays $460Sticker price — | — | $460 | — |
Procedure code 72148. Prices are from each hospital's own published price file — see methodology.