What is the cost of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the hip without contrast?

Cost of MRI Hip Without Contrast

The cost of an MRI of the hip without contrast varies widely across the United States, with a median price of approximately $2,114, ranging from $485 to $4,463 depending on the facility type and location. 1

Cost Factors and Variations

Facility Type Impact on Cost

• Hospital-based facilities: Median cost $2,262 (range $910-$4,463)
• Independent imaging centers: Median cost $1,225 (range $485-$2,218) 1

This significant price difference (nearly 85% higher at hospitals) makes independent imaging centers generally more cost-effective for patients paying out-of-pocket.

Geographic Variations

• Costs vary substantially even within the same metropolitan area
• No significant cost difference was observed between 3.0T and 1.5T MRI machines (contrary to what might be expected with newer technology) 1

Cost-Effectiveness Considerations

MRI hip studies are often ordered unnecessarily, creating substantial economic burden:

• Approximately 15.4% of patients with hip osteoarthritis receive unnecessary MRIs 2
• The estimated cost of unnecessary hip MRIs in the United States could reach $330-440.5 million over a 10-year period 2
• When evaluating suspected hip fractures, MRI is actually more cost-effective than bone scanning due to faster diagnosis (0.37 days vs. 2.24 days) 3

Practical Challenges for Patients

Obtaining pricing information presents significant challenges:

• Median time required to obtain pricing information: 9.1 minutes (range 2.3-25.6 minutes) 1
• Many facilities require multiple calls and transfers to different departments
• Price transparency remains limited despite recent healthcare policy changes

Clinical Decision Making

The American College of Radiology provides guidance on when hip MRIs are appropriate:

• Plain radiographs should be the first imaging study for hip pain 4
• MRI without contrast is rated as "usually appropriate" (9/9) for:
  • Evaluating chronic hip pain when radiographs are negative/equivocal 4
  • Assessing suspected stress fractures after negative radiographs 4
  • Evaluating suspected labral tears 4, 5

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Ordering MRI before radiographs: Plain radiographs should always be obtained first for hip pain 4, 2
2. Unnecessary duplicate imaging: Avoid ordering both CT and MRI for the same condition 4
3. Failure to shop around: Given the wide price variation, patients benefit from comparing costs across facilities 1
4. Ignoring clinical correlation: MRI findings should always be correlated with clinical symptoms to avoid unnecessary treatments 5, 6

For patients concerned about cost, the most economical approach is to ensure appropriate clinical indications exist, obtain plain radiographs first, and then compare prices at independent imaging centers if an MRI is truly necessary.