MRI Scan of Middle Spinal Canal without Contrast Cost in Alabama
What this costs without insurance: real self-pay cash prices and insurance-negotiated rates at 42 Alabama hospitals. CPT 72146. Sourced directly from each facility's CMS-mandated transparency file. Dataset: Q4 2026.
Hospital comparison — Alabama
Sorted by cash price (lowest first). Showing top 42 of 42 hospitals.
| Hospital | Cash | Aetna | UHC | Humana | BCBS | Centene | Cigna | Devoted | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER HAMILTON HAMILTON |
$6.60 | $214 | — | — | — | — | $400 | — | — |
| WASHINGTON COUNTY HOSPITAL CHATOM |
$54.17 | $288 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ELMORE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL WETUMPKA |
$77.22 | — | $100 | $100 | $750 | — | — | — | — |
| JACKSON HOSPITAL MONTGOMERY |
$207 | $30.00 | $958 | $471 | — | $471 | $703 | — | $471 |
| LAKELAND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL HALEYVILLE |
$212 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| RIVERVIEW REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER GADSDEN |
$212 | — | $213 | $202 | $213 | — | $213 | $217 | $213 |
| USA HEALTH UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL MOBILE |
$218 | $190 | $182 | $190 | $187 | $190 | $190 | $190 | — |
| USA HEALTH CHILDREN'S AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL MOBILE |
$218 | $190 | $182 | $190 | $187 | $190 | $615 | $190 | — |
| EAST ALABAMA MEDICAL CENTER OPELIKA |
$271 | $64.35 | — | $64.35 | $64.35 | — | $64.35 | — | — |
| LAKE MARTIN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL DADEVILLE |
$377 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ATHENS LIMESTONE HOSPITAL ATHENS |
$405 | $86.48 | $88.64 | — | $86.48 | $86.48 | $86.48 | $223 | — |
| MONROE COUNTY HOSPITAL MONROEVILLE |
$600 | — | $216 | $216 | $216 | — | $168 | — | $168 |
| SOUTHEAST HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER DOTHAN |
$696 | $82.00 | $210 | $229 | $229 | $229 | $65.00 | — | — |
| NORTH ALABAMA SHOALS HOSPITAL W AVALAON AVE MUSCLE SHOALS |
$840 | $469 | $231 | $233 | $194 | — | — | — | — |
| NORTH ALABAMA MEDICAL CENTER VETRANS DRIVE FLORENCE |
$840 | $469 | $231 | $233 | $194 | — | — | — | — |
| CHILDREN'S OF ALABAMA CHILDREN'S SOUTH HOSPITAL BIRMINGHAM |
$893 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CHILDREN'S OF ALABAMA BENJAMIN RUSSELL HOSPITAL BIRMINGHAM |
$893 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| GROVE HILL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL GROVE HILL |
$916 | $220 | $220 | $220 | — | — | $1,145 | — | — |
| COOSA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER SYLACAUGA |
$944 | $227 | $227 | $3,932 | $3,932 | — | — | $234 | — |
| EVERGREEN MEDICAL CENTER EVERGREEN |
$1,068 | — | — | $213 | — | — | — | — | $213 |
| CLAY COUNTY HOSPITAL ASHLAND |
$1,125 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| RUSSELLVILLE HOSPITAL RUSSELLVILLE |
$1,231 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CULLMAN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER CULLMAN |
$1,268 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ATRIUM HEALTH FLOYD CHEROKEE MEDICAL CENTER CENTRE |
$1,340 | $238 | $238 | $238 | $231 | $243 | $214 | — | — |
| SPRINGHILL MEDICAL CENTER MOBILE |
$1,473 | $100 | $100 | — | $97.00 | $100 | — | $100 | — |
| ATMORE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL ATMORE |
$1,622 | $211 | $211 | $211 | $211 | — | — | — | — |
| D. W. MCMILLAN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BREWTON |
$1,622 | $211 | $211 | $211 | $211 | — | — | — | — |
| OCHSNER CHOCTAW GENERAL BUTLER |
$1,681 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MARSHALL MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH BOAZ |
$1,864 | $210 | $211 | — | $206 | $411 | $206 | $212 | — |
| MARSHALL MEDICAL CENTER NORTH GUNTERSVILLE |
$1,864 | $210 | $211 | — | $206 | $411 | $206 | $212 | — |
| JACKSON MEDICAL CENTER JACKSON |
$2,560 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| DECATUR MORGAN HOSPITAL BELTLINE RD SW DECATUR |
$2,808 | $222 | $223 | $218 | $218 | $239 | $224 | $224 | — |
| DECATUR MORGAN HOSPITAL WEST DECATUR |
$2,808 | $222 | $223 | $218 | $218 | $239 | $224 | $224 | — |
| HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN HUNTSVILLE |
$3,612 | $87.02 | $87.02 | $87.02 | $87.02 | $87.02 | $87.02 | $87.02 | $87.02 |
| HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL MADISON |
$3,612 | $87.02 | $87.02 | $87.02 | $87.02 | $87.02 | $87.02 | $87.02 | $87.02 |
| RED BAY HOSPITAL RED BAY |
$3,937 | $1,024 | $466 | $984 | $736 | $1,126 | $345 | $1,034 | $1,024 |
| HELEN KELLER HOSPITAL SHEFFIELD |
$3,937 | $83.90 | $84.31 | $82.26 | $82.26 | $82.26 | $83.08 | $84.72 | $82.26 |
| BAPTIST HEALTH CITIZENS HOSPITAL TALLADEGA |
$10,412 | $214 | $207 | $212 | — | $385 | — | — | — |
| BAPTIST HEALTH PRINCETON HOSPITAL BIRMINGHAM |
$10,412 | $218 | $207 | $216 | — | $393 | — | — | — |
| BAPTIST HEALTH WALKER HOSPITAL JASPER |
$10,412 | $211 | $207 | $209 | — | $379 | — | — | — |
| BAPTIST HEALTH SHELBY HOSPITAL NORTH |
$10,412 | $218 | $207 | $216 | — | $393 | — | — | — |
| BAPTIST HEALTH BROOKWOOD HOSPITAL BIRMINGHAM |
$13,097 | $218 | $207 | $216 | — | $393 | — | — | — |
That is the median of what the 42 Alabama hospitals above publish for Mri scan of middle spinal canal 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 72146 in Alabama, Medicare reimburses about $172 on the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (non-facility, state average across localities). Hospital cash prices for the same code in Alabama range from $6.60 to $13,097 — that means hospital cash prices are typically 7.4x 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 mri scan of middle spinal canal without contrast cost in Alabama?
- Cash prices for mri scan of middle spinal canal without contrast (CPT 72146) in Alabama range from $6.60 to $13,097, with a median of $1,268. Prices vary widely by hospital.
- Where can I find the cheapest mri scan of middle spinal canal without contrast in Alabama?
- The cheapest Alabama hospital published cash price for this procedure is $6.60. 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.