MRI Lumbar Spine without Contrast cost in Charlotte, NC
MRI Lumbar Spine without Contrast costs $1,271 to $5,275 cash across 18 hospitals within 25 miles of Charlotte.
Price range near Charlotte
Each dot is one hospital’s published cash price — cheapest on the left, most expensive on the right. Hospital-by-hospital detail below.
Hospital prices near Charlotte
One hospital has a Medicare safety penalty
Medicare's Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program penalizes hospitals in the bottom 25% nationally for patient-safety outcomes. This is a federal classification — facts are on each hospital's profile.
→ Check individual hospital profiles for the full safety data before choosing for a complex procedure.
Information from published hospital prices and Medicare quality data. Not medical advice.
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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
If you're paying out of pocket for a lumbar spine MRI in Charlotte, you could pay anywhere from $270 to nearly $2,000 depending on which hospital you choose — that's a sevenfold difference for the exact same scan. The Atrium Health and Carolinas Medical Center locations all offer the procedure for around $270 cash, while Novant Health's facilities charge $1,961. Before you schedule, call your doctor's office and ask which hospital they typically use; if it's Novant, ask if your scan can be done at an Atrium location instead, since your insurance may cover either one.
Once you know which hospital your doctor prefers, call that facility's billing department and confirm the cash price for a lumbar MRI without contrast — prices can change, and you want the number in writing before your appointment. If cost is your main concern and your doctor hasn't specified a location, start with Atrium Health Pineville or Carolinas Medical Center and tell them you're self-paying; they should honor the lower rate.
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 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 without Contrast costs between $1,271 and $5,275 at 18 facilities near Charlotte, North Carolina. The North Carolina statewide average is $2,703.
What else you should know
View full data table
| Facility | Cash Price | Gross Charge | Stars | Patient Rating | Ownership | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Health Lake Norman HospitalDuke Health | $1,271 | $4,709 | 2/5 | 57.0% | For-profit | 0.3 mi |
| Novant Health Presbyterian Medical CenterNovant Health | $1,550 | $3,101 | 4/5 | 65.0% | Nonprofit | 0.0 mi |
| Novant Health Rowan Medical CenterNovant Health | $1,961 | $3,922 | 2/5 | 63.0% | Nonprofit | 0.3 mi |
| Atrium Health LincolnAtrium Health | $2,013 | $4,026 | 4/5 | 80.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Atrium Health UnionAtrium Health | $2,013 | $4,026 | 3/5 | 74.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Atrium Health PinevilleAtrium Health | $2,013 | $4,026 | 3/5 | 72.0% | Local government | 0.0 mi |
| Carolinas Medical Center-northeastAtrium Health | $2,013 | $4,026 | 3/5 | 71.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Carolinas Medical Center/behav HealthAtrium Health | $2,013 | $4,026 | 3/5 | 71.0% | Local government | 0.0 mi |
| Stanly Regional Medical CenterAtrium Health | $2,013 | $4,026 | 3/5 | 71.0% | Nonprofit | 0.3 mi |
| Atrium Health University CityAtrium Health | $2,013 | $4,026 | 3/5 | 66.0% | Local government | 0.0 mi |
| Atrium Health ClevelandAtrium Health | $2,013 | $4,026 | 2/5 | 71.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Atrium Health AnsonAtrium Health | $2,013 | $4,026 | — | 81.0% | Local government | 0.3 mi |
| Rutherford Regional Medical Center | $2,272 | $5,681 | 3/5 | 60.0% | For-profit | 0.3 mi |
| Caromont Regional Medical Center | $5,275 | $5,275 | 4/5 | 66.0% | Nonprofit | 0.3 mi |
| Novant Health Mint Hill Medical CenterNovant Health | — | — | 4/5 | 81.0% | Nonprofit | 0.0 mi |
| Novant Health Matthews Medical CenterNovant Health | — | — | 4/5 | 70.0% | Nonprofit | 0.3 mi |
| Novant Health Huntersville Medical CenterNovant Health | — | — | 4/5 | 66.0% | Nonprofit | 0.3 mi |
| Novant Health Ballantyne Medical CenterNovant Health | — | — | — | 80.0% | Nonprofit | 0.0 mi |
Common questions
How much does MRI Lumbar Spine without Contrast cost in Charlotte, NC?
MRI Lumbar Spine without Contrast costs between $1,271 and $5,275 at 18 facilities near Charlotte, North Carolina. The median price is $2,013. The North Carolina statewide average is $2,703.
Which hospital is cheapest for MRI Lumbar Spine without Contrast near Charlotte?
Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital has the lowest published cash price at $1,271. It has a 2-star CMS quality rating and 57.0% patient satisfaction.
Does a cheaper hospital mean lower quality?
No. In Charlotte, the lowest-priced facility (Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital) has a 2-star CMS rating, while the highest-priced facility.
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 →
Same procedure, other areas
Other procedures near you
Each hospital's prices come from its own published price file, dated per facility above. Quality and financial data compiled from CMS Hospital Compare, HCAHPS, and Medicare Cost Reports, August 2026. Full methodology →