Mri brain stem w/o dye
Brain stem MRI without contrast costs range from $193 at Medicare facilities to $242 at hospital outpatient centers, making it essential to verify your provider's specific charges before scheduling.
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.
An MRI scan of the brain stem without contrast uses magnetic imaging to create detailed pictures of the brain stem area. Patients typically receive this scan when doctors need to evaluate symptoms like dizziness, hearing problems, or balance issues. This procedure charges approximately 3.2x the Medicare reimbursement rate, with the Medicare benchmark at $1,247.
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Common billing errors
Common radiology billing errors include incorrect bundling of imaging procedures, where facilities separately bill components that should be included in comprehensive codes. CT and MRI studies frequently show charges above the benchmark when contrast administration (codes 36000-36299) is billed separately despite being included in the primary imaging code. Duplicate billing occurs when both screening and diagnostic mammography codes are submitted for the same visit, or when bilateral imaging procedures are coded as two separate unilateral studies rather than using appropriate bilateral modifiers. Another frequent error involves confusion between similar imaging codes, such as billing high-resolution CT scans when standard chest CT was performed, creating potential differences of several hundred dollars. Patients should verify that contrast injections aren't separately itemized for procedures already including contrast, confirm bilateral studies use proper coding rather than duplicate unilateral charges, and ensure screening versus diagnostic imaging codes match the actual clinical indication documented in their medical records.
What to check on your bill
When reviewing your radiology bill, first verify the CPT codes match the actual procedures performed—common codes include 70450-70470 for CT scans, 72100-72170 for spine X-rays, and 73000-73700 for extremity imaging. Check that technical and professional components are billed correctly; you should see modifier -TC for the technical component (equipment/technologist) and -26 for professional component (radiologist interpretation), or no modifier if both are included. Confirm the anatomical site and laterality modifiers are accurate—modifier -RT for right side, -LT for left side, and -50 for bilateral procedures when applicable. Review facility fees separately from physician fees, as these appear as distinct line items. Compare your charges against Medicare fee schedules or regional benchmarks, as charges above the benchmark may indicate potential differences worth investigating with your insurance provider or facility billing department.
Facility rate
$193
National Medicare benchmark
Non-facility rate
$9
Office setting benchmark
Data sources
3
23 data points
Key insights for CPT 70551
Facility vs office setting
$184 differenceNon-facility setting is less expensive for this procedure
What this procedure costs across different settings
The same procedure can cost very different amounts depending on where it's performed. These are the Medicare-allowed amounts — what hospitals actually charge can be 3-10x higher.
| Setting | Medicare rate | vs lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Facility (physician office) | $193 | +2049% |
| Non-facility (office) | $9 | Lowest |
| Outpatient (APC) | $242 | +2586% |
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About this data
Rates shown are from the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS), Ambulatory Surgery Center Payment System, Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, Durable Medical Equipment Fee Schedule, and CMS Inpatient Prospective Payment System (DRG weights). Regional adjustments use CMS Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCI). Hospital charges are from CMS Hospital Price Transparency machine-readable files. All data is publicly available under federal law (45 CFR Part 180).
This data is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or financial advice. Actual costs depend on insurance coverage, negotiated rates, and individual circumstances.
Related procedures
Related pricing data
Data: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, CMS Inpatient PPS (IPPS), Outpatient PPS (OPPS), ASC Payment System, Clinical Lab Fee Schedule (CLFS), National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). FY 2024 data. All publicly available from CMS.
Methodology: Facility rate applies when the procedure is performed in a hospital or ASC. Non-facility rate applies in a physician office. GPCI adjustments reflect regional cost-of-living differences.
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