MRI Scan of Upper Spinal Canal Before and After Contrast Cost in Iowa
What this costs without insurance: real self-pay cash prices and insurance-negotiated rates at 61 Iowa hospitals. CPT 72156. Sourced directly from each facility's CMS-mandated transparency file. Dataset: Q4 2026.
📊 Median $2,931
📉 Low $257
📈 High $8,342
🏥 61 hospitals
🏛️ 50 with insurance contracts
🇺🇸 Medicare $295
Hospital comparison — Iowa
Sorted by cash price (lowest first). Showing top 60 of 61 hospitals.
Billed more than $2,931 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 |
$257 | $59.00 | $64.00 | $63.00 | $64.00 | $59.00 | $89.00 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL CEDAR RAPIDS |
$270 | $106 | $106 | $101 | $103 | $103 | $212 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH ST. LUKE'S SIOUX CITY |
$270 | $106 | $106 | $101 | $103 | $103 | $212 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH BLANK CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL DES MOINES |
$270 | $106 | $106 | $101 | $103 | $103 | $212 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH GRINNELL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER GRINNELL |
$270 | $106 | $106 | $101 | $103 | $103 | $212 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTHCARE FINLEY HOSPITAL DUBUQUE |
$270 | $106 | $106 | $101 | $103 | $103 | $212 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH TRINITY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER FORT DODGE |
$270 | $106 | $106 | $101 | $103 | — | $212 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH IOWA LUTHERAN HOSPITAL DES MOINES |
$270 | $106 | $106 | $101 | $103 | $103 | $212 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH TRINITY BETTENDORF |
$270 | $106 | $106 | $101 | $103 | — | $212 | — | $101 |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH TRINITY MUSCATINE MUSCATINE |
$270 | $106 | $106 | $101 | $101 | — | $212 | — | $101 |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH ALLEN HOSPITAL WATERLOO |
$270 | $106 | $106 | $101 | $103 | $103 | $212 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH MARSHALLTOWN MARSHALLTOWN |
$270 | $106 | $106 | $101 | $103 | $103 | $212 | — | — |
| UNITYPOINT HEALTH JONES REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER ANAMOSA |
$270 | $106 | $101 | $101 | $103 | — | $212 | — | — |
| FLOYD VALLEY HOSPITAL LE MARS |
$291 | $85.30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| HEGG HEALTH CENTER ROCK VALLEY |
$446 | $85.30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SIOUX CENTER HEALTH AVERA SIOUX CENTER |
$499 | $85.30 | — | — | $223 | — | — | — | — |
| RINGGOLD COUNTY HOSPITAL MT AYR |
$722 | — | $57.00 | $57.00 | — | — | — | — | — |
| SPENCER HOSPITAL SPENCER |
$1,187 | — | — | — | — | $1.00 | — | — | — |
| GREENE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER JEFFERSON |
$1,472 | $52.00 | $52.00 | $52.00 | — | $51.00 | — | — | $52.00 |
| MERCYONE NORTH IOWA MASON CITY |
$1,643 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LAKES REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SPIRIT LAKE |
$1,830 | $76.20 | — | — | $229 | — | — | — | — |
| BUENA VISTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER TH ST STORM LAKE |
$2,058 | $53.00 | $53.00 | $53.00 | $53.00 | — | $90.00 | — | $53.00 |
| CHI HEALTH MERCY COUNCIL BLUFFS COUNCIL BLUFFS |
$2,094 | $348 | $348 | — | $348 | $346 | — | $3,540 | $339 |
| HAWARDEN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE HARWARDEN |
$2,281 | $1,354 | — | — | $1,354 | — | — | — | — |
| REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES OF HOWARD COUNTY CRESCO |
$2,350 | $73.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CHI HEALTH MERCY CORNING CORNING |
$2,524 | $2,261 | $2,261 | — | $2,261 | $2,351 | — | $5,153 | $2,306 |
| CHI HEALTH MISSOURI VALLEY MISSOURI VALLEY |
$2,576 | $1,840 | $1,840 | — | $4,745 | $2,351 | — | $5,153 | $1,877 |
| LORING HOSPITAL SAC CITY |
$2,697 | $77.00 | $77.00 | $77.00 | — | $89.00 | $96.00 | — | — |
| BURGESS HEALTH CENTER ONAWA |
$2,744 | $51.00 | $51.00 | $51.00 | $51.00 | — | — | — | — |
| CHEROKEE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER CHEROKEE |
$2,829 | $53.00 | $53.00 | $53.00 | $53.00 | $55.00 | $100 | — | — |
| GRUNDY COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL GRUNDY CENTER |
$2,931 | $54.00 | $49.00 | $49.00 | $49.00 | $56.00 | $95.00 | — | — |
| HUMBOLDT COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HUMBOLDT |
$2,960 | $96.00 | $77.84 | $71.00 | $77.84 | $77.84 | $75.00 | $75.00 | — |
| STEWART MEMORIAL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL LAKE CITY |
$2,983 | $52.00 | $52.00 | $50.00 | — | $52.00 | $66.00 | $50.00 | — |
| STORY COUNTY HOSPITAL NORTH NEVADA |
$3,010 | $61.00 | $61.00 | $61.00 | $61.00 | $74.00 | — | — | — |
| LUCAS COUNTY HEALTH CENTER CHARITON |
$3,025 | $1,849 | $1,849 | $1,849 | — | $2,353 | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE WATERLOO MEDICAL CENTER WATERLOO |
$3,416 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE CEDAR FALLS MEDICAL CENTER CEDAR FALLS |
$3,416 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BROADLAWNS MEDICAL CENTER DES MOINES |
$3,434 | $380 | — | $380 | — | — | $304 | — | — |
| GUTTENBERG MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL GUTTENBERG |
$3,462 | $52.00 | $52.52 | $52.00 | — | $52.52 | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE CLINTON CLINTON |
$3,545 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CLARKE COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL OSCEOLA |
$3,648 | $116 | $116 | $116 | $116 | $124 | $3,887 | — | — |
| MERCYONE NEW HAMPTON NEW HAMPTON |
$3,765 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE NEWTON MEDICAL CENTER NEWTON |
$3,765 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE OELWEIN MEDICAL CENTER OELWEIN |
$3,765 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SUMNER |
$3,907 | $58.80 | $63.00 | $63.00 | $49.00 | $61.00 | — | — | — |
| DALLAS COUNTY HOSPITAL PERRY |
$4,055 | $2,869 | $2,812 | $2,812 | — | $3,181 | — | — | — |
| POCAHONTAS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL POCAHONTAS |
$4,070 | $96.00 | $95.00 | $60.00 | $64.00 | $50.00 | $97.00 | — | — |
| OSCEOLA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER SIBLEY |
$4,079 | $85.30 | — | — | $10.00 | — | — | — | — |
| REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER MANCHESTER |
$4,113 | $37.70 | — | $34.34 | — | — | $88.03 | $95.00 | — |
| MERCYONE DUBUQUE DUBUQUE |
$4,189 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| PALO ALTO COUNTY HOSPITAL EMMETSBURG |
$4,268 | $48.00 | $48.00 | — | $48.00 | $60.00 | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE DES MOINES MEDICAL CENTER DES MOINES |
$4,332 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SANFORD SHELDON MEDICAL CENTER SHELDON |
$4,446 | $1,717 | — | $1,717 | $1,717 | — | — | $5,001 | — |
| OTTUMWA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER PENNSYLVANIA AVE OTTUMWA |
$4,485 | $361 | $372 | $365 | $558 | $362 | — | — | — |
| AVERA HOLY FAMILY HOSPITAL ESTHERVILLE |
$4,786 | $85.30 | — | — | $17.60 | — | — | — | — |
| AVERA MERRILL PIONEER HOSPITAL ROCK RAPIDS |
$5,026 | $85.30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BUCHANAN COUNTY HEALTH CENTER INDEPENDENCE |
$5,171 | $38.00 | $36.00 | $36.00 | $36.00 | $35.00 | $83.00 | — | — |
| COMPASS MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE BOX 228 |
$5,182 | $4,508 | $3,886 | $318 | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE CENTERVILLE MEDICAL CENTER CENTERVILLE |
$5,792 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MERCYONE WEST DES MOINES MEDICAL CENTER WEST DES MOINES |
$8,073 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
What these prices are. Each figure is the facility’s own published self-pay (cash) price for CPT 72156, 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: $2,744 across all reporting facilities. Dataset: Q4 2026. Always confirm the final price with the facility before booking.
Billed more than $2,931 for this?
That is the median of what the 61 Iowa hospitals above publish for Mri scan of upper spinal canal before and after 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 72156 in Iowa, Medicare reimburses about $295 on the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (non-facility, state average across localities). Hospital cash prices for the same code in Iowa range from $257 to $8,342 — that means hospital cash prices are typically 10.0x 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 upper spinal canal before and after contrast cost in Iowa?
- Cash prices for mri scan of upper spinal canal before and after contrast (CPT 72156) in Iowa range from $257 to $8,342, with a median of $2,931. Prices vary widely by hospital.
- Where can I find the cheapest mri scan of upper spinal canal before and after contrast in Iowa?
- The cheapest Iowa hospital published cash price for this procedure is $257. 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.
Mri scan of upper spinal canal before and after 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 72156 (Imaging). Data refreshed regularly; verify with the facility before any procedure.