Price range near Richmond

$2,319 to $12,325
5.3x price range Virginia avg: $3,794

Hospital prices near Richmond

1
Stafford Hospital, LLC Nonprofit · 0.2 mi
$2,319 cash price
3★ 70.0% satisfied Safety penalty
2
Mary Washington Hospital Mary Washington Healthcare · Nonprofit · 0.2 mi
$2,319 cash price
2★ 61.0% satisfied Safety penalty
+0% vs lowest Compare
3
Henrico Doctors' Hospital HCA Virginia · Nonprofit · 0.0 mi
$7,981 cash price
3★ 69.0% satisfied Safety penalty
+244% vs lowest Compare
4
CJW Medical Center For-profit · 0.0 mi · For-profit
$8,058 cash price
4★ 64.0% satisfied Safety penalty
+247% vs lowest Compare
5
Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center HCA Virginia · For-profit · 0.2 mi · For-profit
$12,325 cash price
3★ 61.0% satisfied Safety penalty
+431% vs lowest Compare
6
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center Sentara Health · Nonprofit · 0.2 mi
4★ 79.0% satisfied Safety penalty

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Before you schedule

Virginia average $3,794 — prices near Richmond are above average
Call billing before you schedule Ask: "What is the cash price for this procedure?" — if you haven't met your deductible, it may be hundreds less than going through insurance
Expect a separate bill These are facility fees. Your doctor, radiologist, or anesthesiologist bills separately — ask about those costs too

You're looking at an MRI of your lower spine in Richmond, and here's what matters most: the cash prices for this exact procedure swing wildly—from around $2,300 to over $12,000 depending on where you go. That's a five-fold difference for the same scan. Your insurance company will likely cover most of it, but your out-of-pocket costs could easily swing by thousands of dollars depending on your deductible and which facility you choose. Before you schedule anywhere, call your insurance to find out what your actual responsibility is at the lowest-price facility versus the highest.

Start by asking your doctor which of Richmond's imaging centers they'd recommend—they often have relationships that matter for quality and follow-up. Then call at least two facilities' billing departments and give them your insurance information; ask for your out-of-pocket estimate at the cash price level, not the inflated gross charges number. If cost is driving this decision because you're uninsured or underinsured, ask directly whether they offer financial assistance or uninsured discounts—some do, and it's worth exploring before you pay anything.

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.

1

"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.

2

"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.

3

"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 between $2,319 and $12,325 at 6 facilities near Richmond, Virginia. The Virginia statewide average is $3,794.

What else you should know

Ownership affects price For-profit: avg $10,191, 3.5★ (2 hospitals). Nonprofit: avg $4,206, 2.7★ (3 hospitals)

Surgery center alternatives

These ambulatory surgery centers are near Richmond. ASCs often perform outpatient procedures at lower cost than hospitals.

Med Atlantic INC 0.2 mi
Richmond, VA 23235
St Marys Ambulatory Surgery Center 0.2 mi
Richmond, VA 23226
Virginia Eye Institute INC 0.2 mi
Richmond, VA 23226
Chippenham Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC 0.2 mi
Richmond, VA 23225
Cataract and Refractive Surgery Center 0.2 mi
Richmond, VA 23226
Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists DBA Vcs Heart and Vascular Center 0.2 mi
Henrico, VA 23229
View full data table
FacilityCash PriceGross ChargeStarsPatient RatingOwnershipDistance
Stafford Hospital, LLC $2,319 $4,638 3/5 70.0% Nonprofit 0.2 mi
Mary Washington HospitalMary Washington Healthcare $2,319 $4,638 2/5 61.0% Nonprofit 0.2 mi
Henrico Doctors' HospitalHCA Virginia $7,981 $7,981 3/5 69.0% Nonprofit 0.0 mi
CJW Medical Center $8,058 $8,058 4/5 64.0% For-profit 0.0 mi
Spotsylvania Regional Medical CenterHCA Virginia $12,325 $12,325 3/5 61.0% For-profit 0.2 mi
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical CenterSentara Health 4/5 79.0% Nonprofit 0.2 mi

Common questions

How much does MRI Lumbar Spine with and without Contrast cost in Richmond, VA?

MRI Lumbar Spine with and without Contrast costs between $2,319 and $12,325 at 6 facilities near Richmond, Virginia. The median price is $7,981. The Virginia statewide average is $3,794.

Which hospital is cheapest for MRI Lumbar Spine with and without Contrast near Richmond?

Stafford Hospital, LLC has the lowest published cash price at $2,319. It has a 3-star CMS quality rating and 70.0% patient satisfaction.

Does a cheaper hospital mean lower quality?

No. In Richmond, the lowest-priced facility (Stafford Hospital, LLC) has a 3-star CMS rating, while the highest-priced facility (Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center) has a 4-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 →

Data compiled from 17 federal sources including CMS Hospital Price Transparency files, Hospital Compare, HCAHPS, and Medicare Cost Reports. Updated April 2026. Full methodology →