MRI Lumbar Spine with and without Contrast cost in Alexandria, VA
MRI Lumbar Spine with and without Contrast costs $1,479 to $11,570 cash across 9 hospitals within 25 miles of Alexandria.
Price range near Alexandria
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital (5★) has the lowest price — $10,090 less than the most expensive option nearby.
Hospital prices near Alexandria
Lowest published price here: Inova Fair Oaks Hospital
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital has the lowest published cash price in this comparison ($1,479) and Medicare's 5-star CMS rating. Combining lowest price with strong government-rated quality is often a useful starting point — your situation may call for different priorities.
→ Worth verifying with the hospital's billing office, and reading the full profile before deciding.
Information from published hospital prices and Medicare quality data. Not medical advice.
Had this procedure? Tell us what you paid — it helps the next patient
What this price typically doesn't include
Procedure codes generally cover the procedure itself. Other services that often appear on the same bill are listed under separate codes — for example:
- Anesthesia (CPT 00xxx)
- Pathology, if a sample is taken (CPT 88xxx)
- Drugs administered during the visit (J-codes)
- Facility vs. professional split — one charge from the hospital, another from the doctor
- Room and board, if the procedure is inpatient
Asking what other codes might appear on the bill is a useful follow-up so the total is not a surprise. Once you receive the bill, asking for an itemized statement listing each service code separately makes it easier to match against the disclosed prices above.
Observations about billing-code conventions. Not medical advice. Not legal advice.
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Before you schedule
You're looking at an MRI of your lumbar spine in Alexandria, and here's what matters: the cash prices for this exact procedure range from around $1,500 to over $11,500 across the nine facilities in your area — that's nearly an 8-fold difference for the same test. Most hospitals cluster around $1,700, but a few are charging dramatically more. Where you go could mean paying $10,000 extra out of pocket or to your insurance, so this is absolutely worth a 10-minute phone call before you schedule.
Call the imaging department at your doctor's preferred hospital and ask for the cash price for an MRI lumbar spine with and without contrast — use that exact phrase. If they quote you anything over $2,500, call one or two other facilities on your list and compare. If you're uninsured or your insurance has a high deductible, ask about cash discounts directly; some hospitals will reduce the bill further if you pay upfront. Do this today or tomorrow so you can schedule with a real price in mind, not guessing.
Questions to ask when you call
Before scheduling, call the hospital's billing department. These are the exact questions that get you the answers you need.
"What is your cash price for MRI Lumbar Spine with and without Contrast?"
If you haven't met your deductible, the cash price may be lower than what your insurance negotiates. Many hospitals will honor their published cash price if you ask.
"What will my insurance plan pay for this, and what's my out-of-pocket?"
Get a written estimate. Ask them to include your deductible status and coinsurance percentage. This is called a "Good Faith Estimate" and you're legally entitled to one.
"Are there any other charges I should expect — radiologist, anesthesiologist, or facility fees?"
These prices are facility fees. Your doctor, radiologist, and anesthesiologist bill separately. Ask how much those could add.
MRI Lumbar Spine with and without Contrast costs $1,479 at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital (5-star CMS rating) and up to $11,570 at Stonesprings Hospital Center in Alexandria, Virginia — a 7.8x difference for the same procedure across 9 facilities. The Virginia statewide average is $3,809.
What else you should know
Surgery center alternatives
These ambulatory surgery centers are near Alexandria. ASCs often perform outpatient procedures at lower cost than hospitals.
View full data table
| Facility | Cash Price | Gross Charge | Stars | Patient Rating | Ownership | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inova Fair Oaks HospitalInova Health System | $1,479 | $2,958 | 5/5 | 79.0% | Nonprofit | 14.3 mi |
| Inova Loudoun HospitalInova Health System | $1,479 | $2,958 | 5/5 | 76.0% | Nonprofit | 5.9 mi |
| Inova Alexandria HospitalInova Health System | $1,479 | $2,958 | 4/5 | 70.0% | Nonprofit | 0.0 mi |
| Inova Mount Vernon HospitalInova Health System | $1,479 | $2,958 | 3/5 | 67.0% | Nonprofit | 0.0 mi |
| UVA Health Haymarket Medical CenterUVA Health | $1,706 | $2,844 | 4/5 | 76.0% | Nonprofit | 5.9 mi |
| Novant Prince William Medical CenterNovant Health | $2,102 | $4,204 | 4/5 | 64.0% | Nonprofit | 5.9 mi |
| Fauquier Hospital | $3,251 | $8,127 | 3/5 | 62.0% | For-profit | 5.9 mi |
| Reston Hospital CenterHCA Virginia | $11,567 | $11,567 | 3/5 | 66.0% | Nonprofit | 5.9 mi |
| Stonesprings Hospital Center | $11,570 | $11,570 | 3/5 | 76.0% | For-profit | 5.9 mi |
Common questions
How much does MRI Lumbar Spine with and without Contrast cost in Alexandria, VA?
MRI Lumbar Spine with and without Contrast costs between $1,479 and $11,570 at 9 facilities near Alexandria, Virginia. The median price is $1,706. The Virginia statewide average is $3,809.
Which hospital is cheapest for MRI Lumbar Spine with and without Contrast near Alexandria?
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital has the lowest published cash price at $1,479. It has a 5-star CMS quality rating and 79.0% patient satisfaction.
Does a cheaper hospital mean lower quality?
No. In Alexandria, the lowest-priced facility (Inova Fair Oaks Hospital) has a 5-star CMS rating, while the highest-priced facility (Stonesprings Hospital Center) has a 3-star rating.
Where does this pricing data come from?
All prices are from each hospital's federally mandated machine-readable file under the CMS Hospital Price Transparency Rule (45 CFR Part 180). Quality ratings are from CMS Hospital Compare. We do not estimate prices. See full methodology →
How much can I save by choosing a different hospital?
The maximum savings for MRI Lumbar Spine with and without Contrast near Alexandria is $10,091 — the difference between Inova Fair Oaks Hospital ($1,479) and Stonesprings Hospital Center ($11,570).
Same procedure, other areas
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Data compiled from 17 federal sources including CMS Hospital Price Transparency files, Hospital Compare, HCAHPS, and Medicare Cost Reports. Updated April 2026. Full methodology →