MRI Scan of Upper Spinal Canal Before and After Contrast Cost in New Mexico
What this costs without insurance: real self-pay cash prices and insurance-negotiated rates at 18 New Mexico hospitals. CPT 72156. Sourced directly from each facility's CMS-mandated transparency file. Dataset: Q4 2026.
Hospital comparison — New Mexico
Sorted by cash price (lowest first). Showing top 18 of 18 hospitals.
| Hospital | Cash | BCBS | Humana | Aetna | UHC | Cigna | TRICARE | Molina | MultiPlan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR LEA DISTRICT HOSPITAL LOVINGTON |
$264 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SIERRA VISTA HOSPITAL TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES |
$319 | $361 | $416 | — | $642 | — | $180 | — | $382 |
| MINERS COLFAX MEDICAL CENTER RATON |
$1,350 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CIBOLA GENERAL HOSPITAL GRANTS |
$1,370 | $642 | $1,542 | — | $1,137 | $525 | $760 | $900 | — |
| LOVELACE WESTSIDE HOSPITAL ALBUQUERQUE |
$1,476 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LOVELACE WOMENS HOSPITAL ALBUQUERQUE |
$1,476 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| UNM ADULT PSYCHIATRIC CENTER ALBUQUERQUE |
$1,649 | $80.00 | $65.00 | $85.00 | $344 | $80.00 | — | $842 | $85.00 |
| HEART HOSPITAL OF NEW MEXICO AT LOVELACE MEDICAL ALBUQUERQUE |
$1,931 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LOVELACE UNM REHABILITATION HOSPITAL ALBUQUERQUE |
$2,062 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| COVENANT HEALTH HOBBS HOSPITAL HOBBS |
$2,624 | $356 | $363 | $346 | — | — | — | $350 | — |
| UNION COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL CLAYTON |
$2,798 | $3,597 | $3,597 | $3,597 | — | — | — | — | — |
| LOVELACE REGIONAL HOSPITAL ROSWELL ROSWELL |
$3,455 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER LAS CRUCES |
$3,484 | $3,694 | — | $71.30 | $1,354 | $63.19 | $100 | $317 | $90.00 |
| ALBUQUERQUE ER & HOSPITAL EAST ALBUQUERQUE |
$4,082 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ALBUQUERQUE ER & HOSPITAL MONTGOMERY BLVD. NE ALBUQUERQE |
$4,082 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ALTA VISTA REGIONAL HOSPITAL LAS VEGAS |
$4,530 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| KINDRED HOSPITAL - ALBUQUERQUE ALBUQUERQUE |
$4,926 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LOS ALAMOS MEDICAL CENTER WEST ROAD LOS ALAMOS |
$5,091 | $100 | $100 | $68.90 | $82.00 | $58.90 | $100 | — | — |
That is the median of what the 18 New Mexico 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.
Build my dispute letter — freeNo account, no signup. Your bill never leaves your browser.
Medicare reimbursement benchmark
For CPT 72156 in New Mexico, Medicare reimburses about $299 on the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (non-facility, state average across localities). Hospital cash prices for the same code in New Mexico range from $264 to $5,091 — that means hospital cash prices are typically 6.9x 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 New Mexico?
- Cash prices for mri scan of upper spinal canal before and after contrast (CPT 72156) in New Mexico range from $264 to $5,091, with a median of $2,062. Prices vary widely by hospital.
- Where can I find the cheapest mri scan of upper spinal canal before and after contrast in New Mexico?
- The cheapest New Mexico hospital published cash price for this procedure is $264. 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.