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Cost Guide 73718 · Radiology

How much does MRI scan of lower extremity without contrast cost?

Medicare pays $223.

By Priya Iyengar , Senior Billing Analyst · ·
Data from CMS files published FY 2024 CMS IPPS. Refreshed weekly.
About the analyst

Priya Iyengar leads the billing code review team at BillRazor Research. She analyzes NCCI bundling edits, DRG coding, and regional rate variation. Expertise: NCCI bundling, DRG analysis, regional pricing.

3 care settings compared
CMS Medicare benchmark data
Updated 2026-04-03
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Medicare rateAverage chargeHigh end$0$266
$242
Fair price
Average hospital charge vs. benchmarks: $224 (Medicare rate) · $242 (Average charge)
$224
Medicare rate
$242
Avg hospital charge
$18
Price spread
Rate comparison — MRI scan of lower extremity without contrast
Non-facility$88Medicare facility$224Hospital outpatient$242Avg chargemaster$242$154 difference between lowest and highest rate
Research suggests 49–80% of hospital bills contain errors. Our system checks every line item against Medicare benchmarks.

Cost by care setting

Setting Medicare rate
Hospital outpatient (facility) $224
Physician office (non-facility) $88
Hospital outpatient (APC) $242

What affects the cost?

How to save on MRI scan of lower extremity without contrast

  • 1 Freestanding imaging centers are often 50–80% cheaper than hospital outpatient
  • 2 Ask if contrast is medically necessary — it adds significant cost
  • 3 Get a written estimate before scheduling
  • 4 Check if your insurance has a preferred imaging network
Rates shown are from the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and CMS IPPS. BillRazor compares your bill against these data sources. See how it works →

FAQ — MRI scan of lower extremity without contrast cost

What is a fair price for Mri lower extremity w/o dye?
Medicare pays $223 for Mri lower extremity w/o dye (73718). This is the government benchmark rate. A fair price for commercially insured or cash-pay patients is typically 1.2–2.5x the Medicare rate, or roughly $268–$558.
How can I lower my cost for Mri lower extremity w/o dye?
To lower your cost: (1) Compare prices at multiple facilities — use the comparison data on this page. (2) Ask about ASC (surgery center) options, which are often 40–60% cheaper. (3) Request cash-pay pricing upfront. (4) After receiving a bill, review each line item against Medicare benchmarks. Research suggests 49–80% of hospital bills contain errors.

Related pricing data

MRI scan of lower extremity without contrast — Medicare rate detailsFull Medicare rate breakdown by setting and locality
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Data: Federal physician fee schedules, hospital payment data, surgery center rates, lab fee schedules, and drug pricing data. FY 2024. All publicly available from federal sources.

Methodology: Rates shown are national Medicare reimbursement rates by care setting. Price ranges reflect variation across hospitals reporting the same procedure code. Metro prices are averaged from hospital-level chargemaster data reported to CMS.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical, financial, or legal advice. Actual costs depend on your insurance and provider. We recommend verifying costs directly with your provider. Full methodology · Terms of use

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