MRI Cost in Knoxville, TN

An MRI uses a strong magnet and radio waves to produce detailed cross-sectional images of the body, which a radiologist then reads and reports on. The patient lies on a table that slides into the scanner and stays still while images are captured. The hospital facility fee generally covers the scanner, the technologist, the equipment and the room, while the radiologist's reading is billed separately. 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.

Data last accessed by us: 2026-10-15 · Newest hospital file date among hospitals below: 2026-08-27

Data may be outdated

This hospital's pricing file has not been updated since 1/1/2026 (287 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
Fort Loudoun	$1,772	$584.76	$105.33	$1,594.80	Schedule →
Fort Sanders Regional	$1,772	$584.76	$105.33	$1,594.80	Schedule →
Methodist Oak Ridge	$1,772	$584.76	$105.33	$1,594.80	Schedule →
Parkwest	$1,772	$531.60	$105.33	$1,594.80	Schedule →
Roane Medical Center	$1,772	$584.76	$105.33	$1,594.80	Schedule →
LaFollette Medical Center	$5,916.13	$1,597.36	$84.26	$36,200.34	Schedule →
Tennova North Knoxville	$5,916.13	$1,340	$84.26	$5,916.13	Schedule →
Tennova Turkey Creek	$5,916.13	$1,287.35	$84.26	$4,200.45	Schedule →
UT Medical Center	$3,263	$815.75	$71.03	$3,263	Schedule →

MRI Lumbar Spine Without Contrast (HCPCS 72148)

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Hospital	Gross Charge	Cash Price	Low Insured	High Insured
Fort Loudoun	$2,350	$775.50	$105.33	$2,115	Schedule →
Fort Sanders Regional	$2,350	$775.50	$105.33	$2,115	Schedule →
Methodist Oak Ridge	$2,350	$775.50	$105.33	$2,115	Schedule →
Parkwest	$2,350	$705	$105.33	$2,115	Schedule →
Roane Medical Center	$2,350	$775.50	$105.33	$2,115	Schedule →
LaFollette Medical Center	$6,286.26	$1,697.29	$84.26	$36,200.34	Schedule →
Tennova North Knoxville	$6,286.26	$1,423.84	$84.26	$6,286.26	Schedule →
Tennova Turkey Creek	$6,286.26	$1,367.89	$84.26	$4,463.24	Schedule →
UT Medical Center	$2,938	$734.50	$71.03	$2,938	Schedule →

What These Prices Mean

Gross, cash and insured prices side by side
The gross charge is a hospital's full list price before any discounts. At Fort Loudoun Medical Center, the gross charge for 70551 is $1,772 while the cash price is $584.76, which is 33% of gross. At Parkwest Medical Center the cash price for the same code is $531.60, or 30% of gross. The insured range reflects negotiated rates, and at Parkwest Medical Center it runs from $105.33 to $1,594.80 for 70551. People on a high-deductible plan who have not yet met their deductible usually pay the plan's negotiated rate, not a flat copay.

Two codes, two price levels
Code 70551 covers a brain MRI without contrast, and code 72148 covers a lumbar spine MRI without contrast. At the five Covenant Health hospitals, the gross charge is $1,772 for 70551 and $2,350 for 72148. The University of Tennessee Medical Center is an exception, with a gross charge of $3,263 for 70551 and $2,938 for 72148, so the order of the two codes is not the same everywhere. At LaFollette Medical Center, cash is $1,597.36 for 70551 and $1,697.29 for 72148.

Why MRI Prices Vary

Differences between systems
The nine hospitals on this page belong to three systems: Covenant Health with 5, Tennova Healthcare with 3, and University of Tennessee Medical Center with 1. Cash prices run from $531.60 at Parkwest Medical Center (70551) to $1,697.29 at LaFollette Medical Center (72148), and the highest is about 3x the lowest. Gross charges run from $1,772 at Fort Loudoun Medical Center (70551) to $6,286.26 at LaFollette Medical Center (72148), about 4x. Discount depth also differs: cash is 22% of gross at Tennova Turkey Creek Medical Center, 25% at The University of Tennessee Medical Center, and 33% at several Covenant Health hospitals.

Beyond hospitals, and between plans
Outpatient imaging centers and other facilities outside this dataset may price an MRI differently, and their prices are not shown here. The insurer data also shows wide variation. For 70551 at Parkwest Medical Center, 220 published rates range from $105.33 for United Healthcare Tenncare to $1,594.80 for Galaxy Health Network PPO, and the highest is about 15x the lowest in that table.

Paying cash? Health insurance could lower your MRI cost.

Published cash prices on this page range from $531.60 to $1,697.29. The lowest insured rate in the price table is $71.03 (The University of Tennessee 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 Knoxville

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

Insurer	Lowest Rate	At Hospital	Highest Rate	Hospitals
UnitedHealthcare	$71.03	The University of Tennessee Medical Center	$477.73	9
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee	$166.65	Fort Loudoun Medical Center	$1,093.81	9
Amerigroup	$169.55	Tennova North Knoxville Medical Center	$227.30	9
Humana	$213.02	Tennova North Knoxville Medical Center	$1,382.98	9
BlueCare Tennessee	$213.02	Tennova North Knoxville Medical Center	$431.20	3
Farm Bureau Health Plans	$217.28	Tennova North Knoxville Medical Center	$232.70	8
Cigna	$220.72	The University of Tennessee Medical Center	$507.57	9
WellCare	$225.14	Tennova North Knoxville Medical Center	$399.65	9

Rates shown are the lowest and highest negotiated rates each insurer has published across Knoxville 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 Parkwest, outpatient facility fee:

MRI Brain Without Contrast (70551), Parkwest Payer Rates

Insurance Payer	Plan Type	Negotiated Rate
United Healthcare	Tenncare	$105.33
United Healthcare	Tenncare	$105.33
United Healthcare	Tenncare	$105.33
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
BCBS TN	Blue Care	$173.15
Optum	VA CCN	$216.48
Tricare	Humana Military	$216.48
Optum	VA CCN	$216.48
Tricare	Humana Military	$216.48
Optum	VA CCN	$216.48
Tricare	Humana Military	$216.48
Wellpoint	Medicaid Tenncare	$217.30
Wellpoint	Medicaid Tenncare	$217.30
Wellpoint	Medicaid Tenncare	$217.30
Humana	DSNP	$222.97
Humana	Medicare Advantage HMO	$222.97
Humana	Medicare Advantage PPO	$222.97
United Healthcare	Community Plan DSNP	$222.97
United Healthcare	Medicare Advantage	$222.97
Humana	DSNP	$222.97
Humana	Medicare Advantage HMO	$222.97
Humana	Medicare Advantage PPO	$222.97
United Healthcare	Community Plan DSNP	$222.97
United Healthcare	Medicare Advantage	$222.97
Humana	DSNP	$222.97
Humana	Medicare Advantage HMO	$222.97
Humana	Medicare Advantage PPO	$222.97
United Healthcare	Community Plan DSNP	$222.97
United Healthcare	Medicare Advantage	$222.97
Farm Bureau	Medicare Advantage HMO	$225.14
Farm Bureau	Medicare Advantage PPO	$225.14
Farm Bureau	Medicare Advantage HMO	$225.14
Farm Bureau	Medicare Advantage PPO	$225.14
Farm Bureau	Medicare Advantage HMO	$225.14
Farm Bureau	Medicare Advantage PPO	$225.14
Aetna	Medicare Advantage	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	BlueEssential DSNP	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	BlueEssential HMO	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	Med Adv Diamond	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	Med Adv PPO	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	Med Adv Ruby	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	Med Adv Sapphire	$227.30
Cigna	Medicare HMO	$227.30
Cigna	Medicare HMO-POS	$227.30
Cigna	Medicare PPO	$227.30
Devoted Health	HMO	$227.30
Devoted Health	PPO	$227.30
HealthSpring	Medicare HMO POS	$227.30
HealthSpring	Medicare PPO	$227.30
United Healthcare	DSNP	$227.30
Wellcare	Medicare Advantage	$227.30
Wellpoint	DSNP	$227.30
Wellpoint	Medicare Advantage	$227.30
Aetna	Medicare Advantage	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	BlueEssential DSNP	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	BlueEssential HMO	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	Med Adv Diamond	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	Med Adv PPO	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	Med Adv Ruby	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	Med Adv Sapphire	$227.30
Cigna	Medicare HMO	$227.30
Cigna	Medicare HMO-POS	$227.30
Cigna	Medicare PPO	$227.30
Devoted Health	HMO	$227.30
Devoted Health	PPO	$227.30
HealthSpring	Medicare HMO POS	$227.30
HealthSpring	Medicare PPO	$227.30
United Healthcare	DSNP	$227.30
Wellcare	Medicare Advantage	$227.30
Wellpoint	DSNP	$227.30
Wellpoint	Medicare Advantage	$227.30
Aetna	Medicare Advantage	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	BlueEssential DSNP	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	BlueEssential HMO	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	Med Adv Diamond	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	Med Adv PPO	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	Med Adv Ruby	$227.30
Blue Cross of TN	Med Adv Sapphire	$227.30
Cigna	Medicare HMO	$227.30
Cigna	Medicare HMO-POS	$227.30
Cigna	Medicare PPO	$227.30
Devoted Health	HMO	$227.30
Devoted Health	PPO	$227.30
HealthSpring	Medicare HMO POS	$227.30
HealthSpring	Medicare PPO	$227.30
United Healthcare	DSNP	$227.30
Wellcare	Medicare Advantage	$227.30
Wellpoint	DSNP	$227.30
Wellpoint	Medicare Advantage	$227.30
Aetna	Commercial	$367.57
Aetna	Commercial	$367.57
Aetna	Commercial	$367.57
Cigna	HMO	$472
Cigna	Local Plus	$472
Cigna	OAP	$472
Cigna	POS	$472
Cigna	HMO	$472
Cigna	Local Plus	$472
Cigna	OAP	$472
Cigna	POS	$472
Cigna	HMO	$472
Cigna	Local Plus	$472
Cigna	OAP	$472
Cigna	POS	$472
United Healthcare	All Other Plans	$477.73
United Healthcare	Heritage Select	$477.73
United Healthcare	Options PPO	$477.73
United Healthcare	All Other Plans	$477.73
United Healthcare	Heritage Select	$477.73
United Healthcare	Options PPO	$477.73
United Healthcare	All Other Plans	$477.73
United Healthcare	Heritage Select	$477.73
United Healthcare	Options PPO	$477.73
United Healthcare	All Other Plans	$477.73
United Healthcare	Heritage Select	$477.73
United Healthcare	Options PPO	$477.73
United Healthcare	All Other Plans	$477.73
United Healthcare	Heritage Select	$477.73
United Healthcare	Options PPO	$477.73
United Healthcare	All Other Plans	$477.73
United Healthcare	Heritage Select	$477.73
United Healthcare	Options PPO	$477.73
United Healthcare	All Other Plans	$477.73
United Healthcare	Heritage Select	$477.73
United Healthcare	Options PPO	$477.73
United Healthcare	All Other Plans	$477.73
United Healthcare	Heritage Select	$477.73
United Healthcare	Options PPO	$477.73
United Healthcare	All Other Plans	$477.73
United Healthcare	Heritage Select	$477.73
United Healthcare	Options PPO	$477.73
United Healthcare	All Other Plans	$477.73
United Healthcare	Heritage Select	$477.73
United Healthcare	Options PPO	$477.73
Cigna	IFP	$482
Cigna	IFP	$482
Cigna	IFP	$482
BCBS TN	Commercial Network S	$779
BCBS TN	Commercial Network S	$779
BCBS TN	Commercial Network S	$779
BCBS TN	Commercial Network S	$779
BCBS TN	Commercial Network S	$779
BCBS TN	Commercial Network S	$779
BCBS TN	Commercial Network S	$779
BCBS TN	Commercial Network S	$779
BCBS TN	Commercial Network S	$779
BCBS TN	Commercial Network S	$779
EHN	Network Lease	$797.40
EHN	Network Lease	$797.40
EHN	Network Lease	$797.40
BCBS TN	Commercial Network P	$872
BCBS TN	Commercial Network P	$872
BCBS TN	Commercial Network P	$872
BCBS TN	Commercial Network P	$872
BCBS TN	Commercial Network P	$872
BCBS TN	Commercial Network P	$872
BCBS TN	Commercial Network P	$872
BCBS TN	Commercial Network P	$872
BCBS TN	Commercial Network P	$872
BCBS TN	Commercial Network P	$872
Ambetter	Exchange	$1,022
Ambetter	Exchange	$1,022
Ambetter	Exchange	$1,022
Ambetter	Exchange	$1,022
Ambetter	Exchange	$1,022
Ambetter	Exchange	$1,022
Ambetter	Exchange	$1,022
Ambetter	Exchange	$1,022
Ambetter	Exchange	$1,022
Ambetter	Exchange	$1,022
Correctional Medical Services	Correctional Facilities - Inmate Claims	$1,063.20
Correctional Medical Services	Correctional Facilities - Inmate Claims	$1,063.20
Correctional Medical Services	Correctional Facilities - Inmate Claims	$1,063.20
Community Services Network	NonProfit Public Benefit	$1,151.80
Community Services Network	NonProfit Public Benefit	$1,151.80
Community Services Network	NonProfit Public Benefit	$1,151.80
USA Managed Care Organization	PPO	$1,240.40
USA Managed Care Organization	PPO	$1,240.40
USA Managed Care Organization	PPO	$1,240.40
Beech Street	PPO	$1,329
NovaNet	Network Lease	$1,329
Beech Street	PPO	$1,329
NovaNet	Network Lease	$1,329
Beech Street	PPO	$1,329
NovaNet	Network Lease	$1,329
Cigna	BHO	$1,417.60
Direct Care America	PPO	$1,417.60
MedSave USA	Commercial	$1,417.60
National Provider Network	PPO	$1,417.60
Cigna	BHO	$1,417.60
Direct Care America	PPO	$1,417.60
MedSave USA	Commercial	$1,417.60
National Provider Network	PPO	$1,417.60
Cigna	BHO	$1,417.60
Direct Care America	PPO	$1,417.60
MedSave USA	Commercial	$1,417.60
National Provider Network	PPO	$1,417.60
CCN Managed Care	PPO	$1,506.20
CCN Managed Care	PPO	$1,506.20
CCN Managed Care	PPO	$1,506.20
Initial Group	PPO	$1,559.36
Initial Group	PPO	$1,559.36
Initial Group	PPO	$1,559.36
Galaxy Health Network	PPO	$1,594.80
Galaxy Health Network	PPO	$1,594.80
Galaxy Health Network	PPO	$1,594.80

Key finding: At Parkwest Medical Center, the 70551 rate is $105.33 for United Healthcare Tenncare and $1,594.80 for Galaxy Health Network PPO, about 15x apart.

What to Do With These MRI Prices

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

Hold the quote up against the page. For 70551, published cash prices run from $531.60 at Parkwest Medical Center to $1,597.36 at LaFollette Medical Center. Insured rates for the same hospital can sit well above or below its cash price, and no hospital here has cash below every insured rate or above every one. Check whether a quote falls inside the cash range for your code, and ask your insurer what rate applies at that hospital before comparing.

Read the bill in pieces. The price here is the hospital's technical charge only. The radiologist who reads the images usually bills separately, sometimes from a different company. Check whether the bill lists a facility fee, a professional fee, or both, and ask whether any separate charges are expected.

Know what is not on this page. All 18 price rows have a published cash price and none show a missing gross charge, so there are no $0 or blank gaps to read as free. Outpatient and freestanding imaging centers are not in this dataset and may price differently, so you can ask them for a quote on the same code.

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 Knoxville?

Published cash prices on this page run from $531.60 at Parkwest Medical Center (70551) to $1,697.29 at LaFollette Medical Center (72148). All 18 price rows have a published cash price, so none is missing data. Fort Loudoun Medical Center lists $584.76 for 70551 and $775.50 for 72148, while The University of Tennessee Medical Center lists $815.75 for 70551 and $734.50 for 72148. These figures are facility charges only. The radiologist's professional fee is billed separately and is not included in these prices.

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

The gross charge is a hospital's full list price, set before negotiated discounts, and few patients pay it. Cash prices are published as a smaller share of that figure. At Fort Loudoun Medical Center the cash price for 70551 is 33% of the $1,772 gross charge. At Parkwest Medical Center it is 30%, at LaFollette Medical Center 27%, at The University of Tennessee Medical Center 25%, at Tennova North Knoxville Medical Center 23%, and at Tennova Turkey Creek Medical Center 22%. No hospital on this page lists a cash price equal to its gross charge.

Does insurance cover a mri?

Whether an MRI is covered depends on the specific plan, so the plan's own documents and the insurer are the sources for coverage details. The files show negotiated rates that vary by insurer. At Parkwest Medical Center, 70551 rates range from $105.33 to $1,594.80, and at LaFollette Medical Center the insured range for 70551 runs from $84.26 to $36,200.34. People on a high-deductible plan who have not met the deductible usually pay the plan's negotiated rate until the deductible is reached.

Are there additional fees beyond the mri facility charge?

The facility charge on this page is only one part of the bill. A radiologist usually bills a separate professional fee for reading and reporting the images. If contrast material or sedation is used, those can appear as separate line items. Some patients also receive a separate bill from a physician group or an imaging group, and a hospital may bill supplies or other services on their own lines. Itemized statements show which of these charges apply to a given visit.

What is the cash price for an MRI brain without contrast at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville?

Parkwest Medical Center lists a cash price of $531.60 for CPT 70551 MRI Brain Without Contrast, which is 30% of its gross charge of $1,772. This is the lowest cash price on this page. It is a facility charge only, so separate professional fees are not reflected in this figure.

What is the highest cash price for an MRI in Knoxville?

The highest published cash price on this page is $1,697.29 at LaFollette Medical Center for CPT 72148 MRI Lumbar Spine Without Contrast. That is about 3x the lowest cash price shown. It is a facility charge only. All 18 price rows on this page include a published cash price, so none are missing.

What does United Healthcare Tenncare pay for an MRI brain at Parkwest Medical Center?

The page lists United Healthcare Tenncare at $105.33 for CPT 70551 MRI Brain Without Contrast at Parkwest Medical Center. That is the lowest entry among the 220 published rates for this code there. BCBS TN Blue Care is listed at $173.15. These are facility charges only, not including separate professional fees.

What is the cash price for CPT 72148 at The University of Tennessee Medical Center?

The University of Tennessee Medical Center lists a cash price of $734.50 for CPT 72148 MRI Lumbar Spine Without Contrast, against a gross charge of $2,938. Cash is 25% of gross there. The figure is a facility charge only, and no gross charge for this code is missing on the page.

How much do Tennova hospitals in the Knoxville area charge for an MRI brain without contrast?

For CPT 70551, Tennova Healthcare hospitals list a gross charge of $5,916.13. Cash prices are $1,597.36 at LaFollette Medical Center, $1,340 at Tennova North Knoxville Medical Center, and $1,287.35 at Tennova Turkey Creek Medical Center. All are facility charges only, and every row has published cash data.

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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.

Fort Loudoun Medical Center

File updated: 2026-08-27 · Accessed by us: 2026-10-15

Attested by: Robert Boos

We are not affiliated with Fort Loudoun Medical Center. Published prices may not reflect your actual cost. Disclaimer

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