MRI lower back with and without contrast in Montana
Below is what hospitals in Montana charge if you pay cash, and the typical rate insurers negotiated.
Cash prices at 12 hospitals in Montana run from $357 to $6,106. The typical hospital charges $2,637. Where a hospital sits on this scale matters more than the number alone:
typical: $2,637
Cheaper than most hospitalsPricier than most hospitals
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheatland Memorial Hospital MT · Price file July 28, 2026 | $357Insurance typically pays $191Sticker price $357 | Lowest price of any hospital | $191 | $357 |
| Northern Rockies Medical Center MT · Price file August 31, 2026 | $1,157Insurance typically pays $1,157Sticker price $1,218 | Cheaper than 91% of hospitals | $1,157 | $1,218 |
| Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital MT · Price file August 27, 2026 | $1,700Insurance typically pays $973Sticker price $1,889 | Cheaper than 82% of hospitals | $973 | $1,889 |
| Billings Clinic Hospital Billings, MT · Price file April 1, 2026 | $1,858Insurance typically pays $740Sticker price $1,858 | Cheaper than 73% of hospitals | $740 | $1,858 |
| St Patrick Hospital MT · Price file April 1, 2026 | $2,504Insurance typically pays $497Sticker price $3,130 | Cheaper than 64% of hospitals | $497 | $3,130 |
| Pioneer Medical Center MT · Price file April 6, 2026 | $2,626Insurance typically pays $3,118Sticker price $3,282 | Cheaper than 55% of hospitals | $3,118 | $3,282 |
| Trinity Hospital MT · Price file August 3, 2026 | $2,649Insurance typically pays $3,355Sticker price $3,532 | Pricier than 55% of hospitals | $3,355 | $3,532 |
| Community Hospital Of Anaconda MT · Price file October 16, 2026 | $2,685Insurance typically pays $2,954Sticker price $3,580 | Pricier than 64% of hospitals | $2,954 | $3,580 |
| Providence St Joseph Medical Center MT · Price file April 1, 2026 | $2,890Insurance typically pays $1,202Sticker price $3,612 | Pricier than 73% of hospitals | $1,202 | $3,612 |
| Pondera Medical Center MT · Price file February 8, 2024 | $2,998Insurance typically pays $3,351Sticker price $3,527 | Pricier than 82% of hospitals | $3,351 | $3,527 |
| Barrett Hospital & Healthcare MT · Price file June 12, 2026 | $3,552Insurance typically pays $3,552Sticker price $3,739 | Pricier than 91% of hospitals | $3,552 | $3,739 |
| Sheridan Memorial Hosptial MT · Price file October 13, 2026 | $6,106Insurance typically pays $6,513Sticker price $6,784 | Highest price of any hospital | $6,513 | $6,784 |
Procedure code 72158. Prices are from each hospital's own published price file — see methodology.