MRI lower back with and without contrast in Louisiana
Below is what hospitals in Louisiana charge if you pay cash, and the typical rate insurers negotiated.
Cash prices at 11 hospitals in Louisiana run from $275 to $4,703. The typical hospital charges $2,168. Where a hospital sits on this scale matters more than the number alone:
typical: $2,168
Cheaper than most hospitalsPricier than most hospitals
13 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 | $275Insurance typically pays $311Sticker price $367 | Lowest price of any hospital | $311 | $367 |
| East Jefferson General Hospital Metairie, LA · Price file July 1, 2026 | $1,394Insurance typically pays $1,056Sticker price $9,960 | Cheaper than 90% of hospitals | $1,056 | $9,960 |
| Franklin Foundation Hospital LA · Price file September 15, 2026 | $1,805Insurance typically pays $1,714Sticker price $2,578 | Cheaper than 80% of hospitals | $1,714 | $2,578 |
| Our Lady Of The Lake Regional Medical Center LA · Price file October 26, 2026 | $2,078Insurance typically pays $3,471Sticker price $4,157 | Cheaper than 70% of hospitals | $3,471 | $4,157 |
| St Francis Medical Center LA · Price file October 26, 2026 | $2,162Insurance typically pays $3,458Sticker price $4,323 | Cheaper than 60% of hospitals | $3,458 | $4,323 |
| Our Lady Of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Inc LA · Price file October 26, 2026 | $2,168Insurance typically pays $605Sticker price $4,336 | Cheaper than 50% of hospitals | $605 | $4,336 |
| Our Lady Of The Angels Hospital LA · Price file October 26, 2026 | $2,412Insurance typically pays $3,037Sticker price $4,824 | Pricier than 60% of hospitals | $3,037 | $4,824 |
| Iberia Medical Center LA | $2,791Insurance typically pays $597Sticker price $4,651 | Pricier than 70% of hospitals | $597 | $4,651 |
| Richland Parish Hospital-delhi LA · Price file October 27, 2026 | $2,994Insurance typically pays $897Sticker price $4,606 | Pricier than 80% of hospitals | $897 | $4,606 |
| Baton Rouge General Medical Center LA | $3,401Insurance typically pays $542Sticker price $4,858 | Pricier than 90% of hospitals | $542 | $4,858 |
| Caldwell Memorial Hospital, Inc LA | $4,703Insurance typically pays $204Sticker price $4,703 | Highest price of any hospital | $204 | $4,703 |
| St James Parish Hospital LA · Price file April 1, 2026 | —Insurance typically pays $550Sticker price — | — | $550 | — |
| Rapides Regional Medical Center LA | —Insurance typically pays $753Sticker price — | — | $753 | — |
Procedure code 72158. Prices are from each hospital's own published price file — see methodology.