MRI lower back without contrast in Maryland
Below is what hospitals in Maryland charge if you pay cash, and the typical rate insurers negotiated.
Cash prices at 9 hospitals in Maryland run from $184 to $1,796. The typical hospital charges $469. Where a hospital sits on this scale matters more than the number alone:
typical: $469
Cheaper than most hospitalsPricier than most hospitals
9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suburban Hospital MD · Price file July 1, 2025 | $184Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $184 | Lowest price of any hospital | — | $184 |
| Howard County General Hospital MD · Price file July 1, 2025 | $248Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $248 | Cheaper than 88% of hospitals | — | $248 |
| CalvertHealth Medical Center MD | $260Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $265 | Cheaper than 75% of hospitals | — | $265 |
| TidalHealth Nanticoke MD | $469Insurance typically pays $479Sticker price $479 | Cheaper than 62% of hospitals | $479 | $479 |
| Atlantic General Hospital MD | $469Insurance typically pays $479Sticker price $479 | Cheaper than 62% of hospitals | $479 | $479 |
| Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) MD | $544Insurance typically pays $555Sticker price $555 | Pricier than 62% of hospitals | $555 | $555 |
| The Johns Hopkins Hospital MD · Price file July 1, 2025 | $645Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $645 | Pricier than 75% of hospitals | — | $645 |
| Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center MD · Price file July 1, 2025 | $821Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $821 | Pricier than 88% of hospitals | — | $821 |
| Encompass Health Rehab Hospital Of Salisbury MD | $1,796Insurance typically pays —Sticker price $2,394 | Highest price of any hospital | — | $2,394 |
Procedure code 72148. Prices are from each hospital's own published price file — see methodology.