Summary

15 facilities within 25 miles of Charlotte publish prices for MRI Knee without Contrast. Cash prices range from $1,530 to $1,922 — a 1.3x difference for an identical procedure. The North Carolina average is $2,592.

$1,530 lowest
$1,922 highest
Best Value

Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center

Charlotte, VA · Novant Health · 0.0 mi

$1,530 Cash price
4/5 CMS rating
65.0% Patient satisfaction

Lowest price among hospitals rated 4 stars or above. Patient satisfaction: 65%. Cash price of $1,530 is below the statewide average of $2,592.

All facilities ranked by price

1
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center 4★ · 0.0 mi · Nonprofit
$1,530
2
Novant Health Rowan Medical Center 2★ · 0.3 mi · Nonprofit
$1,530
3
Atrium Health Lincoln 4★ · 0.3 mi · Local government
$1,922
4
Atrium Health Union 3★ · 0.3 mi · Local government
$1,922
5
Atrium Health Pineville 3★ · 0.0 mi · Local government
$1,922
6
Carolinas Medical Center-northeast 3★ · 0.3 mi · Local government
$1,922
7
Carolinas Medical Center/behav Health 3★ · 0.0 mi · Local government
$1,922
8
Stanly Regional Medical Center 3★ · 0.3 mi · Nonprofit
$1,922
9
Atrium Health University City 3★ · 0.0 mi · Local government
$1,922
10
Atrium Health Cleveland 2★ · 0.3 mi · Local government
$1,922
11
Atrium Health Anson · 0.3 mi · Local government
$1,922
Complete facility data
# Facility Cash Price Gross Charge Markup CMS Stars Patient Rating Ownership
1 Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Novant Health Charlotte, NC · 0.0 mi $1,530 $3,059 2.0x 4/5 65.0% Nonprofit
2 Novant Health Rowan Medical Center Novant Health Salisbury, NC · 0.3 mi $1,530 $3,059 2.0x 2/5 63.0% Nonprofit
3 Atrium Health Lincoln Atrium Health Lincolnton, NC · 0.3 mi $1,922 $3,845 2.0x 4/5 80.0% Local government
4 Atrium Health Union Atrium Health Monroe, NC · 0.3 mi $1,922 $3,845 2.0x 3/5 74.0% Local government
5 Atrium Health Pineville Atrium Health Charlotte, NC · 0.0 mi $1,922 $3,845 2.0x 3/5 72.0% Local government
6 Carolinas Medical Center-northeast Atrium Health Concord, NC · 0.3 mi $1,922 $3,845 2.0x 3/5 71.0% Local government
7 Carolinas Medical Center/behav Health Atrium Health Charlotte, NC · 0.0 mi $1,922 $3,845 2.0x 3/5 71.0% Local government
8 Stanly Regional Medical Center Atrium Health Albemarle, NC · 0.3 mi $1,922 $3,845 2.0x 3/5 71.0% Nonprofit
9 Atrium Health University City Atrium Health Charlotte, NC · 0.0 mi $1,922 $3,845 2.0x 3/5 66.0% Local government
10 Atrium Health Cleveland Atrium Health Shelby, NC · 0.3 mi $1,922 $3,845 2.0x 2/5 71.0% Local government
11 Atrium Health Anson Atrium Health Wadesboro, NC · 0.3 mi $1,922 $3,845 2.0x 81.0% Local government
12 Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center Novant Health Charlotte, NC · 0.0 mi 4/5 81.0% Nonprofit
13 Novant Health Matthews Medical Center Novant Health Matthews, NC · 0.3 mi 4/5 70.0% Nonprofit
14 Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center Novant Health Huntersville, NC · 0.3 mi 4/5 66.0% Nonprofit
15 Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center Novant Health Charlotte, NC · 0.0 mi 80.0% Nonprofit

Insurance negotiated rates by facility

The rates below are what each insurer has contractually agreed to pay this hospital for MRI Knee without Contrast. Your actual out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible status and copay structure.

Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center

Cash: $1,530
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate vs Cash
Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Medicare $232 -$1,298
Humana Medicare $232 -$1,298
Pace of the Southern Piedmont All Plans $232 -$1,298
UnitedHealthcare Medicare $232 -$1,298
Aetna Medicare $238 -$1,292
Cigna HealthSpring $239 -$1,291
Liberty Health Medicare HMO $243 -$1,286
Blue Cross Blue Shield Advantage65 $419 -$1,111
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueCare $419 -$1,111
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueMedicare HMO $419 -$1,111
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueMedicare PPO $419 -$1,111
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueSelect $419 -$1,111
Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO $419 -$1,111
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueOptions $473 -$1,057

37 additional plans not shown.

Novant Health Rowan Medical Center

Cash: $1,530
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate vs Cash
Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Medicare $232 -$1,298
Humana Medicare $232 -$1,298
Pace of the Southern Piedmont All Plans $232 -$1,298
UnitedHealthcare Medicare $232 -$1,298
Aetna Medicare $238 -$1,292
Cigna HealthSpring $239 -$1,291
Liberty Health Medicare HMO $243 -$1,286
Blue Cross Blue Shield Advantage65 $419 -$1,111
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueCare $419 -$1,111
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueMedicare HMO $419 -$1,111
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueMedicare PPO $419 -$1,111
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueSelect $419 -$1,111
Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO $419 -$1,111
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueOptions $473 -$1,057

38 additional plans not shown.

Atrium Health Lincoln

Cash: $1,922
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate vs Cash
Humana Medicare Advantage $231 -$1,691
Aetna Medicare Advantage $235 -$1,688
Cigna Medicare Advantage $238 -$1,684
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage $239 -$1,683
OrthoCarolina Commercial $283 -$1,639
Amerihealth Caritas Managed Medicaid $434 -$1,489
Alliance Behavioral Health $438 -$1,484
Carolina Complete Health Managed Medicaid $442 -$1,481
Healthy Blue Managed Medicaid $442 -$1,481
Wellcare Managed Medicaid $442 -$1,481
Partners Managed Medicaid $446 -$1,476
Vaya Managed Medicaid $446 -$1,476
Alliance Managed Medicaid $451 -$1,472
Trillium Managed Medicaid $455 -$1,467
UnitedHealthcare Managed Medicaid $639 -$1,283

26 additional plans not shown.

Atrium Health Union

Cash: $1,922
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate vs Cash
Humana Medicare Advantage $234 -$1,688
Aetna Medicare Advantage $238 -$1,684
Cigna Medicare Advantage $241 -$1,681
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage $242 -$1,680
Ortho Carolina Commercial $287 -$1,635
Partners Managed Medicaid $500 -$1,422
Amerihealth Caritas Managed Medicaid $504 -$1,419
Alliance Managed Medicaid $509 -$1,414
Carolina Complete Health Managed Medicaid $513 -$1,409
Healthy Blue Managed Medicaid $513 -$1,409
Wellcare Managed Medicaid $513 -$1,409
UnitedHealthcare Managed Medicaid $515 -$1,407
Vaya Managed Medicaid $518 -$1,404
Trillium Managed Medicaid $529 -$1,394
Alliance Behavioral Health $595 -$1,328

28 additional plans not shown.

Atrium Health Pineville

Cash: $1,922
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate vs Cash
Humana Medicare Advantage $234 -$1,688
Aetna Medicare Advantage $238 -$1,684
Cigna Medicare Advantage $241 -$1,681
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage $242 -$1,680
Ortho Carolina Commercial $287 -$1,635
Partners Managed Medicaid $384 -$1,538
Amerihealth Caritas Managed Medicaid $390 -$1,532
Alliance Behavioral Health $394 -$1,528
Carolina Complete Health Managed Medicaid $398 -$1,525
Healthy Blue Managed Medicaid $398 -$1,525
Wellcare Managed Medicaid $398 -$1,525
Vaya Managed Medicaid $401 -$1,521
Alliance Managed Medicaid $408 -$1,515
Trillium Managed Medicaid $409 -$1,513
UnitedHealthcare Managed Medicaid $575 -$1,347

29 additional plans not shown.

Carolinas Medical Center-northeast

Cash: $1,922
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate vs Cash
Humana Medicare Advantage $234 -$1,688
Aetna Medicare Advantage $238 -$1,684
Cigna Medicare Advantage $241 -$1,681
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage $242 -$1,680
Ortho Carolina Commercial $287 -$1,635
Amerihealth Caritas Managed Medicaid $472 -$1,451
Alliance Behavioral Health $476 -$1,446
Carolina Complete Health Managed Medicaid $481 -$1,442
Wellcare Managed Medicaid $481 -$1,442
Healthy Blue Managed Medicaid $481 -$1,442
Partners Managed Medicaid $484 -$1,438
Vaya Managed Medicaid $486 -$1,437
UnitedHealthcare Managed Medicaid $489 -$1,433
Alliance Managed Medicaid $490 -$1,432
Trillium Managed Medicaid $495 -$1,427

32 additional plans not shown.

Carolinas Medical Center/behav Health

Cash: $1,922
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate vs Cash
Humana Medicare Advantage $234 -$1,688
Aetna Medicare Advantage $238 -$1,684
Cigna Medicare Advantage $241 -$1,681
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage $242 -$1,680
Ortho Carolina Commercial $287 -$1,635
Molina Managed Medicaid $626 -$1,296
Amerihealth Caritas Managed Medicaid $839 -$1,084
Partners Managed Medicaid $846 -$1,076
Alliance Behavioral Health $847 -$1,076
Carolina Complete Health Managed Medicaid $854 -$1,069
Healthy Blue Managed Medicaid $854 -$1,068
Wellcare Managed Medicaid $854 -$1,068
Vaya Managed Medicaid $863 -$1,060
Alliance Managed Medicaid $871 -$1,051
Trillium Managed Medicaid $880 -$1,042

34 additional plans not shown.

Stanly Regional Medical Center

Cash: $1,922
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate vs Cash
Humana Medicare Advantage $234 -$1,688
Aetna Medicare Advantage $238 -$1,684
Cigna Medicare Advantage $241 -$1,681
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage $242 -$1,680
Partners Managed Medicaid $461 -$1,461
Alliance Behavioral Health $462 -$1,461
Wellcare Managed Medicaid $466 -$1,457
Carolina Complete Health Managed Medicaid $466 -$1,457
Healthy Blue Managed Medicaid $466 -$1,457
Amerihealth Caritas Managed Medicaid $470 -$1,452
Vaya Managed Medicaid $470 -$1,452
Alliance Managed Medicaid $475 -$1,447
Trillium Managed Medicaid $479 -$1,443
UnitedHealthcare Managed Medicaid $675 -$1,247
Blue Cross Blue Shield Local Individual Commercial $715 -$1,208

31 additional plans not shown.

Atrium Health University City

Cash: $1,922
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate vs Cash
Humana Medicare Advantage $234 -$1,688
Aetna Medicare Advantage $238 -$1,684
Cigna Medicare Advantage $241 -$1,681
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage $242 -$1,680
Ortho Carolina Commercial $287 -$1,635
Partners Managed Medicaid $384 -$1,538
Amerihealth Caritas Managed Medicaid $394 -$1,528
Alliance Behavioral Health $398 -$1,524
Carolina Complete Health Managed Medicaid $401 -$1,521
Wellcare Managed Medicaid $401 -$1,521
Healthy Blue Managed Medicaid $401 -$1,521
Vaya Managed Medicaid $405 -$1,517
Alliance Managed Medicaid $409 -$1,513
Trillium Managed Medicaid $413 -$1,509
UnitedHealthcare Managed Medicaid $581 -$1,341

32 additional plans not shown.

Atrium Health Cleveland

Cash: $1,922
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate vs Cash
Humana Medicare Advantage $232 -$1,691
Aetna Medicare Advantage $235 -$1,687
Cigna Medicare Advantage $238 -$1,684
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage $239 -$1,683
Partners Managed Medicaid $538 -$1,384
Amerihealth Caritas Managed Medicaid $542 -$1,380
Healthy Blue Managed Medicaid $553 -$1,369
Carolina Complete Health Managed Medicaid $553 -$1,369
Wellcare Managed Medicaid $553 -$1,369
Vaya Managed Medicaid $558 -$1,364
Trillium Managed Medicaid $569 -$1,353
Alliance Managed Medicaid $571 -$1,352
Alliance Behavioral Health $644 -$1,279
UnitedHealthcare Managed Medicaid $805 -$1,118
Aetna North Carolina Preferred Plus Commercial $906 -$1,016

31 additional plans not shown.

Atrium Health Anson

Cash: $1,922
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate vs Cash
Humana Medicare Advantage $234 -$1,688
Aetna Medicare Advantage $238 -$1,684
Cigna Medicare Advantage $241 -$1,681
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage $242 -$1,680
Amerihealth Caritas Managed Medicaid $575 -$1,347
Alliance Behavioral Health $581 -$1,341
Partners Managed Medicaid $586 -$1,336
Wellcare Managed Medicaid $586 -$1,336
Carolina Complete Health Managed Medicaid $586 -$1,336
Healthy Blue Managed Medicaid $586 -$1,336
Vaya Managed Medicaid $592 -$1,331
Alliance Managed Medicaid $592 -$1,331
Trillium Managed Medicaid $604 -$1,319
UnitedHealthcare Managed Medicaid $850 -$1,073
Aetna North Carolina Preferred Plus $906 -$1,016

27 additional plans not shown.

Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center

Cash: N/A
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate
Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Medicare $232
Humana Medicare $232
Pace of the Southern Piedmont All Plans $232
UnitedHealthcare Medicare $232
Aetna Medicare $238
Cigna HealthSpring $239
Liberty Health Medicare HMO $243
Blue Cross Blue Shield Advantage65 $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueCare $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueMedicare HMO $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueMedicare PPO $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueSelect $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueOptions $473

9 additional plans not shown.

Novant Health Matthews Medical Center

Cash: N/A
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate
Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Medicare $232
Humana Medicare $232
Pace of the Southern Piedmont All Plans $232
UnitedHealthcare Medicare $232
Aetna Medicare $238
Cigna HealthSpring $239
Liberty Health Medicare HMO $243
Blue Cross Blue Shield Advantage65 $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueCare $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueMedicare HMO $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueMedicare PPO $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueSelect $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueOptions $473

9 additional plans not shown.

Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center

Cash: N/A
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate
Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Medicare $232
Humana Medicare $232
Pace of the Southern Piedmont All Payer $232
UnitedHealthcare Medicare $232
Aetna Medicare $238
Cigna HealthSpring $239
Liberty Health Medicare HMO $243
Blue Cross Blue Shield Advantage65 $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueCare $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueMedicare HMO $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueMedicare PPO $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueSelect $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueOptions $473

9 additional plans not shown.

Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center

Cash: N/A
Insurance Plan Negotiated Rate
Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Medicare $232
Humana Medicare $232
Pace of the Southern Piedmont All Plans $232
UnitedHealthcare Medicare $232
Aetna Medicare $238
Cigna HealthSpring $239
Liberty Health Medicare HMO $243
Blue Cross Blue Shield Advantage65 $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueCare $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueMedicare HMO $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueMedicare PPO $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueSelect $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO $419
Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueOptions $473

9 additional plans not shown.

Before you call

The data in this report is from each hospital's publicly filed prices. Here's how to use it.

Confirm the price

Call the hospital's billing department and ask for a price estimate or Good Faith Estimate for MRI Knee without Contrast (CPT 73721). Under federal law, they must provide this. Compare it to the published price in this report.

Ask about cash pay

If you haven't met your deductible, ask for the cash/self-pay rate. At many hospitals, the cash price is lower than the insurance-negotiated rate. You can see this in the insurance table above — some negotiated rates exceed the cash price.

Compare before you schedule

You are not required to use the facility your doctor referred you to. You can request a referral to any in-network facility. The same procedure, same quality — sometimes at a fraction of the price.

Ask about financial help

Most nonprofit hospitals in Virginia offer financial assistance to patients based on household income. This is separate from insurance — even insured patients can qualify. Ask billing for their Financial Assistance Policy.

Financial assistance by facility

Nonprofit hospitals are legally required to have financial assistance programs. Below is what we know about each facility's charitable care.

Facility Status Charity Care Provided How to Apply
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Nonprofit Call billing, request Financial Assistance application
Novant Health Rowan Medical Center Nonprofit Call billing, request Financial Assistance application
Atrium Health Lincoln Local government N/A (for-profit)
Atrium Health Union Local government N/A (for-profit)
Atrium Health Pineville Local government N/A (for-profit)
Carolinas Medical Center-northeast Local government N/A (for-profit)
Carolinas Medical Center/behav Health Local government N/A (for-profit)
Stanly Regional Medical Center Nonprofit Call billing, request Financial Assistance application
Atrium Health University City Local government N/A (for-profit)
Atrium Health Cleveland Local government N/A (for-profit)
Atrium Health Anson Local government N/A (for-profit)
Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center Nonprofit Call billing, request Financial Assistance application
Novant Health Matthews Medical Center Nonprofit Call billing, request Financial Assistance application
Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center Nonprofit Call billing, request Financial Assistance application
Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center Nonprofit Call billing, request Financial Assistance application

What to do next

  1. Identify your top 2-3 facilities based on price, quality rating, and distance. The data in this report shows that lower price does not mean lower quality — check the star ratings.
  2. Call billing before you schedule. Confirm the published price. Ask for a Good Faith Estimate. Ask whether there's a prompt-pay or cash-pay discount beyond the listed rate.
  3. Check your deductible status. If you haven't met your deductible, compare the cash rate to what you'd owe through insurance. In some cases, paying cash is cheaper than using your plan.
  4. Apply for financial assistance if your household income is under $60,000-$125,000 (thresholds vary). Most eligible patients never apply because they don't know the program exists.
  5. Get everything in writing. Before your procedure, get a written price estimate. After, review the bill line by line. Roughly 80% of hospital bills contain errors (Becker's Hospital Review).

Data sources

Hospital prices
Published machine-readable files, required under CMS Hospital Price Transparency Rule (45 CFR Part 180)
Quality ratings
CMS Hospital Compare, updated quarterly
Patient satisfaction
HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems)
Financial data
CMS Cost Reports (charity care, revenue) and IRS 990 filings (officer compensation)

This report is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Every price shown is a price a hospital published — not an estimate. Actual out-of-pocket costs depend on your insurance plan, deductible status, and clinical circumstances. Consult your healthcare provider and insurer before making decisions.