MRI Cost in Houston, TX

An MRI scan uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed cross-sectional images of the body. The patient lies on a table that slides into a large scanner while the machine records images, which a radiologist then reads and reports. The hospital facility fee covers the scanner, the technologist, the room and supplies, but not the radiologist's reading. This page covers two billing codes: 70551 (MRI Brain Without Contrast) and 72148 (MRI Lumbar Spine Without Contrast). All prices come from the price transparency files that CMS requires hospitals to publish, drawn from 33 hospitals and 66 price rows.

Data last accessed by us: 2026-10-15 · Newest hospital file date among hospitals below: 3/24/2026

Data may be outdated

This hospital's pricing file has not been updated since 2026-02-28 (229 days ago). Prices may not reflect current charges. Contact the hospital directly for current pricing.

Scope note: These are hospital facility fees only. Standalone imaging centers (not hospitals) often charge significantly less for outpatient imaging but are not covered by the CMS Hospital Price Transparency Rule, so they are not included in this data. We currently track only hospital-published prices.

MRI Brain Without Contrast (HCPCS 70551)

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Hospital	Gross Charge	Cash Price	Low Insured	High Insured
Baylor St Luke's Medical	$4,708	$1,647.80	$174.32	$4,708	Schedule →
Harris Health	N/A	$231.94	$202.15	$3,273.40	Schedule →
HCA Clear Lake *	$14,794.04	$14,794.04 *	$198.11	$13,314.64	Schedule →
HCA Conroe *	$32,113	$32,113 *	$198.11	$28,901.70	Schedule →
HCA Kingwood *	$18,640.31	$18,640.31 *	$198.11	$16,776.28	Schedule →
HCA Mainland *	$14,794.04	$14,794.04 *	$198.11	$13,314.64	Schedule →
HCA Medical Center *	$17,453.95	$17,453.95 *	$202.15	$14,835.86	Schedule →
HCA North Cypress *	$18,640.31	$18,640.31 *	$202.15	$15,844.26	Schedule →
HCA Northwest *	$20,243.66	$20,243.66 *	$202.15	$17,207.11	Schedule →
HCA Pearland *	$13,110.77	$13,110.77 *	$202.15	$11,144.15	Schedule →
HCA Southeast *	$10,868.21	$10,868.21 *	$198.11	$9,781.39	Schedule →
HCA Tomball *	$18,251.80	$18,251.80 *	$202.15	$15,514.03	Schedule →
HCA West *	$15,853	$15,853 *	$198.11	$14,267.70	Schedule →
Houston Methodist	$2,671	$1,335.50	$239.69	$1,691.87	Schedule →
MH Cypress	$5,210.50	$1,667.36	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Greater Heights	$4,101	$1,312.32	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Katy	$4,101	$1,312.32	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Memorial City	$4,101	$1,312.32	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Northeast	$4,101	$1,312.32	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Pearland	$4,101	$1,312.32	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Southeast	$4,101	$1,312.32	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Southwest	$4,101	$1,312.32	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Sugar Land	$4,101	$1,312.32	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
Memorial Hermann TMC	$5,210.50	$1,667.36	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Woodlands	$4,101	$1,312.32	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
St Luke's Brazosport	$7,560	$2,646	$204.15	$3,780	Schedule →
St Luke's Lakeside	$4,708	$1,647.80	$174.32	$4,708	Schedule →
St Luke's Patients Medica	$8,574	$3,000.90	$192.04	$6,430.50	Schedule →
St Luke's Springwoods Vil	$4,708	$1,647.80	$174.32	$4,708	Schedule →
St Luke's Sugar Land	$4,708	$1,647.80	$174.32	$4,708	Schedule →
St Luke's The Vintage	$4,708	$1,647.80	$174.32	$4,708	Schedule →
St Luke's The Woodlands	$4,708	$1,647.80	$174.32	$4,708	Schedule →
Texas Children's	$4,153	$2,782.51	$202.15	$3,945.35	Schedule →

* Hospitals marked with * publish cash prices equal to their gross charges, meaning no separate self-pay discount appears in their transparency file. The insured rates shown are negotiated rates between the hospital and specific insurance plans. Uninsured patients may be able to negotiate lower rates by contacting the hospital directly.

MRI Lumbar Spine Without Contrast (HCPCS 72148)

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Hospital	Gross Charge	Cash Price	Low Insured	High Insured
Baylor St Luke's Medical	$10,082	$3,528.70	$174.32	$10,082	Schedule →
Harris Health	$5,326	$231.94	$197.14	$3,461.90	Schedule →
HCA Clear Lake *	$14,794.04	$14,794.04 *	$193.20	$13,314.64	Schedule →
HCA Conroe *	$22,879	$22,879 *	$193.20	$20,591.10	Schedule →
HCA Kingwood *	$19,475.21	$19,475.21 *	$193.20	$17,527.69	Schedule →
HCA Mainland *	$14,794.04	$14,794.04 *	$193.20	$13,314.64	Schedule →
HCA Medical Center *	$18,235.34	$18,235.34 *	$197.14	$15,500.04	Schedule →
HCA North Cypress *	$19,475.21	$19,475.21 *	$197.14	$22,445.10	Schedule →
HCA Northwest *	$21,149.92	$21,149.92 *	$197.14	$17,977.43	Schedule →
HCA Pearland *	$13,110.77	$13,110.77 *	$197.14	$11,144.15	Schedule →
HCA Southeast *	$17,958.70	$17,958.70 *	$193.20	$16,162.83	Schedule →
HCA Tomball *	$19,070.09	$19,070.09 *	$197.14	$16,209.58	Schedule →
HCA West *	$19,795	$19,795 *	$193.20	$17,815.50	Schedule →
Houston Methodist	$2,112	$1,056	$239.69	$1,691.87	Schedule →
MH Cypress	$6,030.75	$1,929.84	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Greater Heights	$4,734.75	$1,515.12	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Katy	$4,734.75	$1,515.12	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Memorial City	$4,734.75	$1,515.12	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Northeast	$4,734.75	$1,515.12	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Pearland	$4,734.75	$1,515.12	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Southeast	$4,734.75	$1,515.12	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Southwest	$4,734.75	$1,515.12	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Sugar Land	$4,734.75	$1,515.12	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
Memorial Hermann TMC	$6,030.75	$1,929.84	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
MH Woodlands	$4,734.75	$1,515.12	$239.69	$455.41	Schedule →
St Luke's Brazosport	$11,750.45	$4,112.66	$199.14	$5,875.23	Schedule →
St Luke's Lakeside	$10,082	$3,528.70	$174.32	$10,082	Schedule →
St Luke's Patients Medica	$8,249.85	$2,887.45	$187.28	$6,187.39	Schedule →
St Luke's Springwoods Vil	$10,082	$3,528.70	$174.32	$10,082	Schedule →
St Luke's Sugar Land	$10,082	$3,528.70	$174.32	$10,082	Schedule →
St Luke's The Vintage	$10,082	$3,528.70	$174.32	$10,082	Schedule →
St Luke's The Woodlands	$10,082	$3,528.70	$174.32	$10,082	Schedule →
Texas Children's	$5,514	$3,694.38	$197.14	$5,238.30	Schedule →

What These Prices Mean

Gross charge, cash price and insured range
The gross charge is a hospital's full list price before any discount. The cash price is what a self-pay patient is quoted, and the insured range shows the lowest to highest negotiated rate with insurers. At Baylor St Luke's Medical Center, the brain MRI (70551) has a gross charge of $4,708 and a cash price of $1,647.80, which is 35% of gross, with insured rates from $174.32 to $4,708. At Houston Methodist Hospital, cash is 50% of gross, and at Texas Children's Hospital it is 67%. Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital lists a cash price of $231.94 for both codes. People on a high-deductible plan who have not met the deductible usually pay the plan's negotiated rate, so the insured range matters to them.

Brain versus lumbar spine pricing
Code 70551 covers an MRI of the brain without contrast, and 72148 covers an MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast. The two codes are priced separately at each hospital and do not always move together. Houston Methodist Hospital lists a gross charge of $2,671 for 70551 and $2,112 for 72148. Baylor St Luke's Medical Center lists $4,708 for 70551 and $10,082 for 72148. HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe lists $32,113 for 70551 and $22,879 for 72148. Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital has no usable gross charge on file for 70551, which is treated as missing data.

Why MRI Prices Vary

Wide gaps between systems
Gross charges on this page run from $2,112 at Houston Methodist Hospital (72148) to $32,113 at HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe (70551), and the highest is about 15x the lowest. Cash prices span from $231.94 to $32,113 across all hospitals. Excluding hospitals whose cash price equals the gross charge, the range is from $231.94 to $4,112.66 at St Luke's Brazosport (72148), and the highest is about 18x the lowest. Discount policies differ by system: 11 of 33 hospitals publish a cash price equal to gross, all of them in HCA Healthcare. Memorial Hermann hospitals list cash at 32% of gross, and the 8 St. Luke's Health (CommonSpirit) hospitals list 35%.

Outside this dataset and across plans
Outpatient imaging centers and other facilities not included here may price an MRI differently. Insurer rates also vary by plan. At HCA Houston Healthcare West, the payer table for 70551 lists 181 published rates, from $198.11 to $14,267.70. The highest entry is about 72x the lowest.

Paying cash? Health insurance could lower your MRI cost.

Published cash prices on this page range from $231.94 to $32,113 (including hospitals that publish cash equal to gross charge, marked with * in the table). The lowest insured rate in the price table is $174.32 (Baylor St Luke's Medical Center). Insured rates depend on the plan, and the lowest are often Medicaid, CHIP or Medicare Advantage plans, so they may not reflect what a commercial or marketplace plan pays. If you are uninsured, a marketplace health plan could reduce your out-of-pocket cost for this procedure.

Compare Health Insurance Plans → Get Free Plan Estimate →

Links go to Healthcare.gov, the official federal health insurance marketplace. We are not affiliated with Healthcare.gov or any insurance provider. This is not a recommendation for any specific plan.

Compare Insurer Rates for MRI in Houston

How much does each insurance company pay for mri at Houston hospitals?

Insurer	Lowest Rate	At Hospital	Highest Rate	Hospitals
Community Health Choice	$187.28	St Luke's Patients Medical Center	$3,528.96	33
Texas Children's Health Plan	$187.28	St Luke's Patients Medical Center	$4,536.90	17
Molina Healthcare	$197.14	Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital	$1,654.20	13
UnitedHealthcare	$197.14	Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital	$3,528.96	22
Amerigroup	$197.14	HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake	$1,340	19
Superior Health Plan	$197.14	Texas Children's Hospital	$1,926.78	21
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas	$207	Baylor St Luke's Medical Center	$3,473.82	22
Aetna	$215.07	HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake	$3,528.96	33

Rates shown are the lowest and highest negotiated rates each insurer has published across Houston hospitals for this procedure. Your actual cost depends on your plan's deductible, copay, and coinsurance.

What Insurers Actually Pay

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Published negotiated rates for MRI Brain Without Contrast (HCPCS 70551) at HCA West, outpatient facility fee:

MRI Brain Without Contrast (70551), HCA West Payer Rates

Insurance Payer	Plan Type	Negotiated Rate
Texas Health Network	MCD	$198.11
Amerigroup	MCDCHIPBH	$202.15
Amerigroup	MGMCD	$202.15
Community Health Choice MCD	CHIP	$204.15
Community Health Choice MCD	CHIPPerinatal	$204.15
Community Health Choice MCD	STAR	$204.15
Community Health Choice MCD	STAR+PLUS	$204.15
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
United	MGMCD	$208.23
Aetna Better Health	MGMCD	$220.48
Molina Healthcare	CHIP	$222.37
Molina Healthcare	STAR	$222.37
Molina Healthcare	STARKIDS	$222.37
Molina Healthcare	STARPLUS	$222.37
Humana	MCD	$252.69
Texas Childrens Health Plans	CHIP	$303.23
Texas Childrens Health Plans	STAR	$303.23
Texas Childrens Health Plans	STARKIDS	$303.23
United	NarrowNetworkIndivExchange	$437.25
United	NarrowNetworkIndivExchange	$437.25
United	NarrowNetworkIndivExchange	$437.25
United	NarrowNetworkIndivExchange	$437.25
United	NarrowNetworkIndivExchange	$437.25
United	NarrowNetworkIndivExchange	$437.25
United	NarrowNetworkIndivExchange	$437.25
United	NarrowNetworkIndivExchange	$437.25
BCBS	MyBlueHealth	$466.08
United	AllPayerAppendix	$517.79
United	SmallGroup	$517.79
United	AllPayerAppendix	$517.79
United	SmallGroup	$517.79
United	AllPayerAppendix	$517.79
United	SmallGroup	$517.79
United	AllPayerAppendix	$517.79
United	SmallGroup	$517.79
United	AllPayerAppendix	$517.79
United	SmallGroup	$517.79
United	AllPayerAppendix	$517.79
United	SmallGroup	$517.79
United	AllPayerAppendix	$517.79
United	SmallGroup	$517.79
United	AllPayerAppendix	$517.79
United	SmallGroup	$517.79
BCBS	BAV	$577.94
BCBS	HMO	$878.56
BCBS	EPOSOA	$922.84
Superior Health Plan	CHIP	$951.18
Superior Health Plan	CHPFC	$951.18
Superior Health Plan	STAR	$951.18
Superior Health Plan	STARKids	$951.18
Superior Health Plan	STARPLUS	$951.18
Superior Health Plan	CHIP	$951.18
Superior Health Plan	CHPFC	$951.18
Superior Health Plan	STAR	$951.18
Superior Health Plan	STARKids	$951.18
Superior Health Plan	STARPLUS	$951.18
BCBS	PPO	$964.79
Aetna	ASAPPO	$1,361
Aetna	NBHMO	$1,679
Aetna	NBPOS	$1,679
Aetna	NBPPO	$1,679
Aetna	COMMHMO	$1,784
Aetna	COMMPOS	$1,784
Aetna	COMMPPO	$1,784
Aetna	OONHMO	$2,099
Aetna	OONPOS	$2,099
Aetna	OONPPO	$2,099
Cigna	CSN	$2,127
Cigna	CSN	$2,127
Cigna	CSN	$2,127
Cigna	CSN	$2,127
Cigna	CSN	$2,127
Cigna	CSN	$2,127
Cigna	CSN	$2,127
Cigna	CSN	$2,127
Aetna	ASAHMO	$2,268
Aetna	ASAPOS	$2,268
Cigna	OpenAccessPlus	$2,304
Cigna	OpenAccessPlus	$2,304
Cigna	OpenAccessPlus	$2,304
Cigna	OpenAccessPlus	$2,304
Cigna	OpenAccessPlus	$2,304
Cigna	OpenAccessPlus	$2,304
Cigna	OpenAccessPlus	$2,304
Cigna	OpenAccessPlus	$2,304
United	OptionsPPO	$2,663.30
United	OptionsPPO	$2,663.30
Cigna	PPO	$2,739
Cigna	PPO	$2,739
Cigna	PPO	$2,739
Cigna	PPO	$2,739
Cigna	PPO	$2,739
Cigna	PPO	$2,739
Cigna	PPO	$2,739
Cigna	PPO	$2,739
Texas Workforce Commission	WCOMP	$3,804.72
Texas Workforce Commission	WCOMP	$3,804.72
Humana	HMO	$5,252.10
Humana	PPO	$5,252.10
Humana	HMO	$5,252.10
Humana	PPO	$5,252.10
BCBS	Traditional	$5,548.55
BCBS	Traditional	$5,548.55
Christus (USFHP)	TRICARE	$6,341.20
Christus (USFHP)	TRICARE	$6,341.20
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCEL	$6,816.79
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCEL	$6,816.79
Fidelis SecureCare of TX	MGMCR	$7,133.85
United	GlobalAppendix	$7,133.85
Fidelis SecureCare of TX	MGMCR	$7,133.85
United	GlobalAppendix	$7,133.85
Coventry National First Health	COMM	$8,211.85
Coventry National First Health	COMM	$8,211.85
Physicians Cooperative of Texas	WC	$8,719.15
Rockport Workers Comp	COMM	$8,719.15
Physicians Cooperative of Texas	WC	$8,719.15
Rockport Workers Comp	COMM	$8,719.15
Independent Medical System	COMM	$9,511.80
National Healthcare Solutions	COMM	$9,511.80
SouthWest Medical	WORKERSCOMP	$9,511.80
Triumph	COMM	$9,511.80
Independent Medical System	COMM	$9,511.80
National Healthcare Solutions	COMM	$9,511.80
SouthWest Medical	WORKERSCOMP	$9,511.80
Triumph	COMM	$9,511.80
Coastal Comp	COMM	$10,304.45
Coastal Comp	COMM	$10,304.45
Multiplan	PHCSPrimaryNetwork	$11,889.75
Multiplan	PHCSPrimaryNetwork	$11,889.75
Cigna Behavioral Health	COMMBH	$12,682.40
Cigna Behavioral Health	COMMBH	$12,682.40
HealthSmart Preferred Care	PPO	$12,999.46
HealthSmart Preferred Care	PPO	$12,999.46
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCOUNTABLEPPO	$13,475.05
Multiplan	ComplementaryNetwork	$13,475.05
Physicians, INC	COMM	$13,475.05
HealthSmart Preferred Care	ACCOUNTABLEPPO	$13,475.05
Multiplan	ComplementaryNetwork	$13,475.05
Physicians, INC	COMM	$13,475.05
Affiliated PPO	COMM	$14,267.70
Affiliated PPO	COMM	$14,267.70

Key finding: At HCA Houston Healthcare West, the brain MRI (70551) has published insurer rates from $198.11 to $14,267.70, with the highest about 72x the lowest.

What to Do With These MRI Prices

Confirm the scan with the ordering office. This page covers two codes: 70551 (MRI brain without contrast) and 72148 (MRI lumbar spine without contrast). Ask the office that wrote the order which exact CPT code applies, and whether it is with or without contrast, since adding contrast changes the code. Then call the hospital's billing office, quote that code, and ask for its cash price and an itemized estimate.

Test a quote against the rows above. Look at the same hospital and the same code. At HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake, the cash price for 70551 is $14,794.04, and the highest insured rate is $13,314.64, so cash sits above every insured rate there. Across this page, cash is above every insured rate at that hospital in 44 of 66 rows. At Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital, the cash price for 70551 is $231.94. Memorial Hermann hospitals list lower insured ceilings than cash in some rows, so compare row by row.

Expect more than one bill. The price shown is the hospital's technical charge. The radiologist who reads the images usually bills separately. Check that the facility fee and the professional fee are each itemized, and ask the hospital whether the quote covers only the facility side.

Remember what is not listed. Every one of the 66 rows has a published cash price and gross charge, so no $0 or blank entries here. Outpatient and freestanding imaging centers are not in this dataset and may price the same scan differently.

Financial assistance and discounts. Nonprofit hospitals are required to publish a financial assistance policy, and the billing office can send it with an application. Some hospitals also offer prompt-pay or self-pay discounts; these vary by hospital and are not included in this data. If you are uninsured or not using insurance for scheduled care, you can ask the provider for a good faith estimate before the appointment.

General information about using published prices, not medical, legal or financial advice. Confirm your own cost with the hospital and your insurer. Our methodology · Medical Disclaimer

What Patients Ask About MRI Costs

How much does a mri cost without insurance in Houston?

Published cash prices on this page run from $231.94 at Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital to $32,113 at HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe, both for code 70551. Many HCA Houston Healthcare hospitals list a cash price equal to the gross charge. Excluding those, the range is from $231.94 to $4,112.66 at St Luke's Brazosport (72148). All 66 price rows have a published cash price, but Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital has a missing gross charge for 70551. These are facility charges only. Professional fees, such as the radiologist's reading, are billed separately.

Why is the gross charge so much higher than the cash price?

The gross charge is a hospital's full list price, and few patients are billed that amount. Cash prices are usually set well below it. At Baylor St Luke's Medical Center and the other St. Luke's Health (CommonSpirit) hospitals, cash is 35% of gross. At Memorial Hermann hospitals it is 32%, at Houston Methodist Hospital 50%, and at Texas Children's Hospital 67%. At Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital, the lumbar spine cash price is 4% of gross. The 11 HCA Houston Healthcare hospitals that publish cash equal to gross list no self-pay discount, so for them the two figures match.

Does insurance cover a mri?

Whether insurance covers an MRI depends on your specific plan, so the plan itself is the source for coverage details. The price files show negotiated rates that vary widely. At Memorial Hermann hospitals, insured rates for both codes run from $239.69 to $455.41. At Baylor St Luke's Medical Center, the brain MRI ranges from $174.32 to $4,708. At HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe, it runs from $198.11 to $28,901.70. If you have a high-deductible plan and have not met your deductible, you usually pay the plan's negotiated rate for the facility charge.

Are there additional fees beyond the mri facility charge?

Yes. The facility charge covers the hospital's scanner, staff and supplies, but other bills may arrive separately. A radiologist's professional fee for reading and reporting the images is typically billed by the physician group rather than the hospital. Other separate bills can include the ordering physician's visit, and fees for sedation or anesthesia if used. Contrast material, when part of an exam, may also be billed on its own line, but both codes on this page are listed without contrast. Ask for an itemized bill to see each charge and who issued it.

What is the cash price for an MRI brain at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital?

Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital lists a cash price of $1,312.32 for MRI Brain Without Contrast (70551), against a gross charge of $4,101. That cash figure is 32% of gross. All figures on this page are facility charges only and do not include a radiologist's reading fee or other separate bills.

What is the lowest MRI price in Houston?

The lowest published cash price in Houston on this page is $231.94 at Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital for MRI Brain Without Contrast (70551). The lowest insured rate is $174.32 at Baylor St Luke's Medical Center for the same code. These are facility charges only, and prices vary by plan and hospital.

Why do HCA Houston Healthcare hospitals show the same cash price and gross charge for an MRI?

In the Houston data, 11 of 33 hospitals publish a cash price equal to the gross charge, meaning no self-pay discount was listed. All 11 are HCA Houston Healthcare locations. For example, HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe lists $32,113 for MRI Brain Without Contrast (70551). These are facility charges only.

What is the difference between CPT 70551 and 72148 for MRI prices in Houston?

Code 70551 is MRI Brain Without Contrast and 72148 is MRI Lumbar Spine Without Contrast. Prices differ by code at the same hospital. Houston Methodist Hospital lists a cash price of $1,335.50 for 70551 and $1,056 for 72148. All figures are facility charges only.

What does UnitedHealthcare pay for an MRI in Houston?

Across 22 Houston hospitals on this page, UnitedHealthcare rates run from $197.14 at Harris Health - Ben Taub Hospital to $3,528.96 at Texas Children's Hospital, with a median of $208.23. The highest is about 18x the lowest. These are facility charges only, and actual costs depend on your plan.

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Data Sources

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Heads up: source files are large

Hospital CMS transparency files typically range from tens of megabytes to several hundred megabytes. Clicking a link below will open the file in a new tab and may trigger a large download, which can consume mobile data or slow down older devices. These files are intended for data processing, not casual viewing.

Baylor St Luke's Medical Center

File updated: 2026-02-28 · Accessed by us: 2026-10-15

Attested by: Bradley Lembcke MD, Hospital President

We are not affiliated with Baylor St Luke's Medical Center. Published prices may not reflect your actual cost. Disclaimer