CMS Price Transparency Data

MRI, lower back (no contrast)

Facility: Banner Thunderbird Medical Center

Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$258

about 1.1× the $244 Medicare rate · typically $246–$354

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$258

About the fair price

1.1× Medicare

Medicare pays $244 Fair price $258 This hospital $258 Cash price $421 Hospital's list price $2,417

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other AZ hospitals

Highest price of the 9 AZ hospitals we have prices for — worth calling around.

Cheapest $75 Priciest $258

Black dot = this hospital, among the 9 AZ hospitals with a price for this procedure. Full list below.

A fair price for a MRI, lower back (no contrast) is about $258 (about 1.1× the $244 Medicare rate). Banner Thunderbird Medical Center charges insurers about $258, or about $421 in cash — about the fair price. Located in Glendale, AZ.

What each insurance company pays

Which insurers have negotiated a price with this hospital for this procedure — and which haven’t.

6 of 6 major insurers have a published price at this hospital

✓ UnitedHealthcare✓ Blue Cross Blue Shield✓ Aetna✓ Cigna✓ Humana✓ Kaiser Permanente

Crossed out = this hospital hasn’t published a negotiated price for that insurer for this procedure. It doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t accepted — ask your insurer.

Insurance company	Price range	vs. Medicare
UnitedHealthcaremajor	$258 - $361	106%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$258 - $903	106%
Aetnamajor	$258 - $1,274	106%
Cignamajor	$258 - $1,496	106%
Humanamajor	$265	109%
Kaiser Permanentemajor	$258	106%
Banner Health	$167 - $258	69%
Devoted Health	$271	111%
Health Net	$167 - $381	69%
Oscar Health	$425	174%
UPMC Health Plan	$258	106%
+ 14 smaller / regional plans	$73 - $1,813

Government programs also on file: Military & VA.

Self-Pay How to get the cash price

Tell the billing desk you want to be billed as self-pay — not through insurance — before your visit.
Ask for the cash / prompt-pay discount in writing, with the exact price (about 421), before you agree to anything.
Get it in writing that they won’t also bill your insurance, so the cash price is what you owe.
Check the CPT code on your bill matches exactly: 72148.

Insurance Before you use insurance

Call your insurance company to confirm Banner Thunderbird Medical Center is in-network.
Ask your insurer whether prior approval is required for CPT code 72148.
Confirm the doctor or provider is in-network too — not just the hospital building.
Check your Explanation of Benefits against the hospital’s final itemized bill.

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost

A rough estimate of what you’d pay with insurance (deductible + coinsurance) versus paying the cash price yourself.

How you’d pay

Deductible left to meet ($)

Your coinsurance (%)

Enter your details and press estimate to compare.

Other Procedures at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center

Compare: MRI, lower back (no contrast) at other AZ hospitals

Insurance negotiated median for the same procedure, sorted lowest first.