CT Scan of Lower Spine without Contrast Cost in Iowa
What this costs without insurance: real self-pay cash prices and insurance-negotiated rates at 64 Iowa hospitals. CPT 72131. Sourced directly from each facility's CMS-mandated transparency file. Dataset: Q4 2026.
📊 Median $1,455
📉 Low $113
📈 High $4,083
🏥 64 hospitals
🏛️ 51 with insurance contracts
🇺🇸 Medicare $120
Hospital comparison — Iowa
Sorted by cash price (lowest first). Showing top 60 of 64 hospitals.
Billed more than $1,455 for this? That gap is evidence.
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| Hospital | Cash | UHC | Humana | Aetna | BCBS | Molina | Cigna | MultiPlan | Centene |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GREATER REGIONAL HEALTH W TOWNLINE ST CRESTON |
$113 | $59.00 | $64.00 | $63.00 | $64.00 | $59.00 | $89.00 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH IOWA LUTHERAN HOSPITAL DES MOINES |
$128 | $45.75 | $45.75 | $43.57 | $44.44 | $44.44 | $92.32 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH TRINITY MUSCATINE MUSCATINE |
$128 | $45.75 | $45.75 | $43.57 | $43.57 | — | $92.32 | — | $43.57 |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH GRINNELL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER GRINNELL |
$128 | $45.75 | $45.75 | $43.57 | $44.44 | $44.44 | $92.32 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTHCARE FINLEY HOSPITAL DUBUQUE |
$128 | $45.75 | $45.75 | $43.57 | $44.44 | $44.44 | $92.32 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL CEDAR RAPIDS |
$128 | $45.75 | $45.75 | $43.57 | $44.44 | $44.44 | $92.32 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH MARSHALLTOWN MARSHALLTOWN |
$128 | $45.75 | $45.75 | $43.57 | $44.44 | $44.44 | $92.32 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH JONES REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER ANAMOSA |
$128 | $45.75 | $43.57 | $43.57 | $44.44 | — | $92.32 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH ALLEN HOSPITAL WATERLOO |
$128 | $45.75 | $45.75 | $43.57 | $44.44 | $44.44 | $92.32 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH TRINITY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER FORT DODGE |
$128 | $45.75 | $45.75 | $43.57 | $44.44 | — | $92.32 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH BLANK CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL DES MOINES |
$128 | $45.75 | $45.75 | $43.57 | $44.44 | $44.44 | $92.32 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH ST. LUKE'S SIOUX CITY |
$128 | $45.75 | $45.75 | $43.57 | $44.44 | $44.44 | $92.32 | — | — |
| FLOYD VALLEY HOSPITAL LE MARS |
$128 | $85.30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH TRINITY BETTENDORF |
$128 | $45.75 | $45.75 | $43.57 | $44.44 | — | $92.32 | — | $43.57 |
| HEGG HEALTH CENTER ROCK VALLEY |
$149 | $85.30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SIOUX CENTER HEALTH AVERA SIOUX CENTER |
$339 | $85.30 | — | — | $95.91 | — | — | — | — |
| RINGGOLD COUNTY HOSPITAL MT AYR |
$373 | — | $57.00 | $57.00 | — | — | — | — | — |
| SPENCER HOSPITAL SPENCER |
$844 | — | — | — | — | $1.00 | — | — | — |
| GREENE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER JEFFERSON |
$897 | $69.00 | $52.00 | $100 | — | $52.00 | — | — | $52.00 |
| GRUNDY COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL GRUNDY CENTER |
$926 | $54.00 | $54.00 | $1,157 | $54.00 | $56.00 | $95.00 | — | — |
| CHI HEALTH MERCY COUNCIL BLUFFS COUNCIL BLUFFS |
$935 | $104 | $104 | — | $104 | $103 | — | $1,581 | $101 |
| HUMBOLDT COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HUMBOLDT |
$1,002 | $96.00 | $77.84 | $71.00 | $77.84 | $77.84 | $75.00 | $75.00 | — |
| BUENA VISTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER TH ST STORM LAKE |
$1,084 | $53.00 | $53.00 | $53.00 | $53.00 | — | $90.00 | — | $53.00 |
| BROADLAWNS MEDICAL CENTER DES MOINES |
$1,087 | $149 | — | $149 | — | — | $119 | — | — |
| CHEROKEE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER CHEROKEE |
$1,107 | $53.00 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $55.00 | $100 | — | — |
| BURGESS HEALTH CENTER ONAWA |
$1,146 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 | — | — | — | — |
| LAKES REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SPIRIT LAKE |
$1,259 | $76.20 | — | — | $68.18 | — | — | — | — |
| COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SUMNER |
$1,292 | $58.80 | $63.00 | $63.00 | $49.00 | $1,615 | — | — | — |
| DALLAS COUNTY HOSPITAL PERRY |
$1,321 | $935 | $916 | $916 | — | $1,036 | — | — | — |
| LORING HOSPITAL SAC CITY |
$1,410 | $95.00 | $77.00 | $80.00 | — | $1,763 | $96.00 | — | — |
| REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER MANCHESTER |
$1,413 | $37.70 | — | $34.34 | — | — | $88.03 | $95.00 | — |
| HAWARDEN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE HARWARDEN |
$1,455 | $864 | — | — | $864 | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE DES MOINES MEDICAL CENTER DES MOINES |
$1,498 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE DUBUQUE DUBUQUE |
$1,507 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CHI HEALTH MERCY CORNING CORNING |
$1,508 | $1,351 | $1,351 | — | $1,351 | $1,405 | — | $3,079 | $1,378 |
| MERCYONE OELWEIN MEDICAL CENTER OELWEIN |
$1,517 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE ELKADER MEDICAL CENTER ELKADER |
$1,517 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE NEW HAMPTON NEW HAMPTON |
$1,517 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE DYERSVILLE MEDICAL CENTER DYERSVILLE |
$1,517 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE NEWTON MEDICAL CENTER NEWTON |
$1,517 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CHI HEALTH MISSOURI VALLEY MISSOURI VALLEY |
$1,540 | $1,100 | $1,100 | — | $2,836 | $1,405 | — | $3,079 | $1,122 |
| MERCYONE NORTH IOWA MASON CITY |
$1,571 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE CEDAR FALLS MEDICAL CENTER CEDAR FALLS |
$1,609 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE WATERLOO MEDICAL CENTER WATERLOO |
$1,609 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| STORY COUNTY HOSPITAL NORTH NEVADA |
$1,628 | $61.00 | $61.00 | $61.00 | $87.00 | $2,035 | — | — | — |
| POCAHONTAS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL POCAHONTAS |
$1,656 | $96.00 | $95.00 | $60.00 | $64.00 | $50.00 | $97.00 | — | — |
| CLARKE COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL OSCEOLA |
$1,664 | $50.11 | $50.11 | $50.11 | $50.11 | $55.93 | $2,174 | — | — |
| PALO ALTO COUNTY HOSPITAL EMMETSBURG |
$1,729 | $48.00 | $100 | — | $48.00 | $60.00 | — | — | — |
| STEWART MEMORIAL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL LAKE CITY |
$1,798 | $52.00 | $52.00 | $50.00 | — | $52.00 | $66.00 | $50.00 | — |
| LUCAS COUNTY HEALTH CENTER CHARITON |
$1,800 | $1,100 | $1,100 | $1,100 | — | $1,400 | — | — | — |
| COMPASS MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE BOX 228 |
$1,868 | $1,625 | $1,401 | $115 | — | — | — | — | — |
| PELLA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER PELLA |
$1,909 | $240 | $75.00 | $725 | $725 | $668 | — | $1,336 | — |
| OSCEOLA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER SIBLEY |
$1,967 | $85.30 | — | — | $10.00 | — | — | — | — |
| GUTTENBERG MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL GUTTENBERG |
$2,022 | $52.00 | $52.52 | $52.00 | — | $52.52 | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE CLINTON CLINTON |
$2,057 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BUCHANAN COUNTY HEALTH CENTER INDEPENDENCE |
$2,058 | $38.00 | $36.00 | $38.00 | $38.00 | $38.00 | $83.00 | — | — |
| MERCYONE CENTERVILLE MEDICAL CENTER CENTERVILLE |
$2,334 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| OTTUMWA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER PENNSYLVANIA AVE OTTUMWA |
$2,427 | $106 | — | — | $344 | $104 | — | — | — |
| SANFORD SHELDON MEDICAL CENTER SHELDON |
$2,508 | $969 | — | $969 | $969 | — | — | $2,822 | — |
| REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES OF HOWARD COUNTY CRESCO |
$2,528 | $73.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
What these prices are. Each figure is the facility’s own published self-pay (cash) price for CPT 72131, filed under the federal price transparency rule (45 CFR Part 180). Hospital facility charges may not include separate physician, anesthesia, or pathology fees. National median for this code: $1,362 across all reporting facilities. Dataset: Q4 2026. Always confirm the final price with the facility before booking.
Billed more than $1,455 for this?
That is the median of what the 64 Iowa hospitals above publish for Ct scan of lower spine without contrast — their own figures, filed under federal law. A bill well above them is evidence you can put in writing.
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Medicare reimbursement benchmark
For CPT 72131 in Iowa, Medicare reimburses about $120 on the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (non-facility, state average across localities). Hospital cash prices for the same code in Iowa range from $113 to $4,083 — that means hospital cash prices are typically 12.1x what Medicare pays. If a self-pay quote you receive is more than 2-3x the Medicare rate, ask the hospital for the cash-discount price in writing.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does ct scan of lower spine without contrast cost in Iowa?
- Cash prices for ct scan of lower spine without contrast (CPT 72131) in Iowa range from $113 to $4,083, with a median of $1,455. Prices vary widely by hospital.
- Where can I find the cheapest ct scan of lower spine without contrast in Iowa?
- The cheapest Iowa hospital published cash price for this procedure is $113. Use the table above sorted by cash price to find the lowest-priced facility near you.
- Are these the prices I'll pay?
- These are the rates hospitals publish. Final price depends on your insurance, deductible, and the specific services billed. Always confirm with the facility and your insurer before any procedure.
- Why do prices vary so much between hospitals?
- Hospitals set cash prices independently, and insurance contracts negotiate different rates per payer. Two facilities a few miles apart can charge 5-10x different prices for the same procedure.
- Where does this data come from?
- Federal law (45 CFR § 180) requires hospitals to publish their pricing in a machine-readable file. We aggregate these files and republish in a consumer-friendly format.
Ct scan of lower spine without contrast in nearby states
Other procedures in Iowa
Methodology. Cash prices and insurance-negotiated rates published by each Iowa facility under federal price transparency rules (45 CFR § 180). CPT code 72131 (Imaging). Data refreshed regularly; verify with the facility before any procedure.