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MRI Scan of Upper Spinal Canal Before and After Contrast Cost in North Carolina
What this costs without insurance: real self-pay cash prices and insurance-negotiated rates at 89 North Carolina hospitals. CPT 72156. Sourced directly from each facility's CMS-mandated transparency file. Dataset: Q4 2026.
📊 Median $2,596
📉 Low $708
📈 High $11,377
🏥 89 hospitals
🏛️ 54 with insurance contracts
🇺🇸 Medicare $300
Hospital comparison — North Carolina
Sorted by cash price (lowest first). Showing top 60 of 89 hospitals.
Billed more than $2,596 for this? That gap is evidence.
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| Hospital | Cash | Aetna | BCBS | Centene | UHC | Cigna | Humana | MultiPlan | Health Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECU HEALTH BERTIE HOSPITAL WINDSOR |
$708 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| NOVANT HEALTH FORSYTH MEDICAL CENTER WINSTON-SALEM |
$1,304 | $347 | $338 | $412 | $338 | $349 | $338 | $1,956 | — |
| CONE HEALTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOSPITAL GREENSBORO |
$1,380 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CONE HEALTH WESLEY LONG HOSPITAL GREENSBORO |
$1,380 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CONE HEALTH ALAMANCE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER BURLINGTON |
$1,380 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CONE HEALTH ANNIE PENN HOSPITAL REIDSVILLE |
$1,380 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CONE HEALTH MOSES CONE HOSPITAL GREENSBORO |
$1,380 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| DUKE HEALTH LAKE NORMAN HOSPITAL MOORESVILLE |
$1,393 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| DUKE REGIONAL HOSPITAL DURHAM |
$1,402 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| DUKE RALEIGH HOSPITAL RALEIGH |
$1,402 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL DURHAM |
$1,402 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| NOVANT HEALTH CLEMMONS MEDICAL CENTER CLEMMONS |
$1,515 | $347 | $338 | $478 | $338 | $349 | $338 | $2,272 | — |
| NOVANT HEALTH PENDER MEDICAL CENTER BURGAW |
$1,709 | $1,051 | $630 | $1,088 | $2,772 | $1,056 | $974 | — | — |
| RANDOLPH HOSPITAL ASHEBORO |
$1,793 | $24.70 | $17.00 | $376 | $14.10 | $33.00 | $376 | — | — |
| ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST HIGH POINT MEDICAL CENTER HIGH POINT |
$1,854 | $1,105 | $1,531 | $543 | $543 | $2,036 | $3,449 | $3,338 | — |
| NOVANT HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN MEDICAL CENTER CHARLOTTE |
$1,970 | $348 | $339 | $700 | $339 | $349 | $339 | $2,954 | — |
| WAKEMED CARY HOSPITAL CARY |
$2,058 | $345 | $345 | $414 | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAKEMED MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING HOSPITAL - WAKEBROOK SUNNYBROOK ROAD RALEIGH |
$2,058 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAKEMED NORTH HOSPITAL RALEIGH |
$2,058 | $345 | $345 | $345 | — | — | — | — | — |
| UNC ROCKINGHAM HOSPITAL EAST KINGS HWY EDEN |
$2,166 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST WILKES MEDICAL CENTER NORTH WILKESBORO |
$2,234 | $1,697 | $1,551 | $844 | $844 | $2,341 | — | $4,110 | — |
| PERSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ROXBORO |
$2,271 | $102 | $17.84 | $28.53 | $1,318 | $41.50 | $100 | — | — |
| ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST DAVIE MEDICAL CENTER BERMUDA RUN |
$2,327 | $346 | $346 | $346 | $346 | $346 | $349 | $4,189 | — |
| HARRIS REGIONAL HOSPITAL HOSPITAL ROAD SYLVA |
$2,328 | $44.60 | $36.18 | $49.49 | $100 | $295 | $102 | — | $100 |
| HAYWOOD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER CLYDE |
$2,328 | $44.60 | $28.92 | $45.31 | $37.10 | $100 | $102 | — | — |
| ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST WINSTON SALEM |
$2,455 | $1,164 | $1,335 | $1,124 | $1,124 | $1,644 | $2,686 | $4,419 | — |
| UNC LENOIR HEALTH CARE AIRPORT RD KINSTON |
$2,477 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| NOVANT HEALTH CHARLOTTE ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL CHARLOTTE |
$2,491 | $348 | $339 | $885 | $339 | $349 | $339 | $3,736 | — |
| NOVANT HEALTH ROWAN MEDICAL CENTER SALISBURY |
$2,491 | $348 | $339 | $857 | $339 | $349 | $339 | $3,736 | — |
| ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER LEXINGTON |
$2,510 | $1,426 | $1,396 | $956 | $956 | $2,184 | $4,418 | $4,519 | — |
| ATRIUM HEALTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHARLOTTE CHARLOTTE |
$2,530 | $105 | $102 | $107 | $107 | $107 | $104 | — | — |
| ATRIUM HEALTH LEVINE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CHARLOTTE |
$2,530 | $105 | $2,111 | $107 | $106 | $102 | $104 | $4,553 | $2,236 |
| CAROLINAS REHABILITATION MOUNT HOLLY BELMONT |
$2,530 | $105 | $1,754 | $107 | $106 | $102 | $104 | $4,654 | $2,236 |
| ATRIUM HEALTH ANSON WADESBORO |
$2,530 | $105 | $2,027 | $106 | $106 | $102 | $104 | $4,806 | $2,236 |
| ATRIUM HEALTH CABARRUS CONCORD |
$2,530 | $105 | $1,100 | $107 | $106 | $102 | $104 | $4,806 | $2,236 |
| ATRIUM HEALTH LINCOLN LINCOLNTON |
$2,530 | $105 | $1,450 | $107 | $106 | $102 | $104 | $4,806 | $2,236 |
| ATRIUM HEALTH STANLY ALBERMARLE |
$2,530 | $105 | $940 | $107 | $106 | $102 | $104 | $4,756 | $2,236 |
| ATRIUM HEALTH PINEVILLE CHARLOTTE |
$2,530 | $105 | $999 | $107 | $106 | $102 | $104 | $4,654 | $2,236 |
| ATRIUM HEALTH MERCY CHARLOTTE |
$2,530 | $105 | $1,073 | $107 | $106 | $102 | $104 | $4,654 | $2,236 |
| ATRIUM HEALTH CAROLINAS MEDICAL CENTER CHARLOTTE |
$2,530 | $105 | $1,259 | $107 | $106 | $102 | $104 | $4,553 | $2,236 |
| ATRIUM HEALTH UNION WEST MONROE |
$2,530 | $105 | $826 | $107 | $106 | $102 | $104 | $4,806 | $2,236 |
| ATRIUM HEALTH KINGS MOUNTAIN SHELBY |
$2,530 | $105 | $1,245 | $107 | $106 | $102 | $104 | $4,806 | $2,236 |
| ATRIUM HEALTH UNIVERSITY CITY CHARLOTTE |
$2,530 | $105 | $860 | $107 | $106 | $102 | $104 | $4,654 | $2,236 |
| NOVANT HEALTH BRUNSWICK MEDICAL CENTER BOLIVIA |
$2,536 | $384 | $374 | $728 | $374 | $385 | $374 | $4,564 | — |
| CATAWBA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER HICKORY |
$2,596 | $2,635 | $374 | $367 | $520 | $356 | $364 | $3,677 | — |
| WAYNE UNC HEALTHCARE WAYNE MEMORIAL DR GOLDSBORO |
$2,624 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| UNC HEALTH NASH CURTIS ELLIS DR ROCKY MOUNT |
$2,845 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| RUTHERFORD REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM RUTHERFORDTON |
$2,969 | $47.10 | $20.28 | $30.20 | $100 | $37.40 | $73.00 | $90.00 | $100 |
| NOVANT HEALTH THOMASVILLE MEDICAL CENTER THOMASVILLE |
$2,989 | $347 | $338 | $923 | $338 | $349 | $338 | $4,484 | — |
| UNC REX HOSPITAL LAKE BOONE TRAIL RALEIGH |
$3,062 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| UNC HEALTH JOHNSTON N. BRIGHT LEAF BLVD. SMITHFIELD |
$3,062 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| UNC MEDICAL CENTER MANNING DR CHAPEL HILL |
$3,062 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| FRYE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER N CENTER STREET HICKORY |
$3,164 | $342 | $782 | $750 | $339 | — | $335 | — | — |
| HUGH CHATHAM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ELKIN |
$3,204 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| UNC HEALTH PARDEE NORTH JUSTICE STREET HENDERSONVILLE |
$3,273 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CENTRAL CAROLINA HOSPITAL CARTHAGE STREET SANFORD |
$3,341 | — | $1,601 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| THE OUTER BANKS HOSPITAL NAGS HEAD |
$3,544 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MARIA PARHAM MEDICAL CENTER HENDERSON |
$3,603 | $47.10 | $34.39 | $57.05 | $100 | $56.70 | $100 | — | $100 |
| COLUMBUS REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WHITEVILLE |
$3,714 | $347 | $335 | $335 | $335 | $352 | $345 | $4,775 | $3,518 |
| ECU HEALTH DUPLIN HOSPITAL KENANSVILLE |
$3,781 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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 $2,596 for this?
That is the median of what the 89 North Carolina 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 North Carolina, Medicare reimburses about $300 on the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (non-facility, state average across localities). Hospital cash prices for the same code in North Carolina range from $708 to $11,377 — that means hospital cash prices are typically 8.7x 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 North Carolina?
- Cash prices for mri scan of upper spinal canal before and after contrast (CPT 72156) in North Carolina range from $708 to $11,377, with a median of $2,596. Prices vary widely by hospital.
- Where can I find the cheapest mri scan of upper spinal canal before and after contrast in North Carolina?
- The cheapest North Carolina hospital published cash price for this procedure is $708. 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 North Carolina
Methodology. Cash prices and insurance-negotiated rates published by each North Carolina facility under federal price transparency rules (45 CFR § 180). CPT code 72156 (Imaging). Data refreshed regularly; verify with the facility before any procedure.