MRI Brain Cost in Arkansas (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a mri brain cost in Arkansas?

For a commercially insured patient, an mri brain in Arkansas typically runs $665–$1,473 once facility and physician fees are combined. The median reported facility price across 60 hospitals is $1,027. The figures draw on CMS fee schedules and hospital price transparency data published under federal law.

Where mri brain costs vary in Arkansas

Pins show hospitals with price-transparency data (colored by vs. state average) and nearby ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, and other facilities (colored by type). Click any pin for facility name and estimated cost range.

26+ people checked prices near them this month.

Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield dominates commercial insurance contracting statewide, creating relatively uniform negotiated rates across most major health systems. UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) and Baptist Health anchor the major institutional tiers; rural Arkansas has extensive critical access hospital coverage where cash prices may be higher than urban facilities despite lower local costs. Brain MRI pricing follows the same site-of-service pattern as other MRI, with hospital outpatient rates running 4–8× higher than freestanding imaging centers for an identical scan. With-contrast protocols (typically ordered for lesion characterization or post-treatment surveillance) carry a higher CPT code and higher price than non-contrast studies. If ordered as a non-urgent outpatient study, scheduling at a freestanding imaging center is the single most effective way to reduce cost.

Received a bill? Check it for errors → Estimate YOUR cost before you go → Managing more than one bill? See the family tracker →

Why prices vary - and what it means for your coverage

A small number of hospitals (8) report prices above $2,850, including Cornerstone Hospital Little Rock at $6,555, which drives most of the overall spread - excluding them, most facilities cluster in a much tighter band. Setting matters too: the median outpatient price is $885 versus $1,249 inpatient (about 1.4× more), so where a procedure happens often matters more than which hospital you pick. Whether the scan happens in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a separate facility fee) or a freestanding imaging center is usually the single biggest driver of price for this procedure.

What you pay out of pocket on top of this depends on your deductible, your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, and whether every provider involved is in-network - not just the facility.

Frequently asked questions: MRI Brain costs in Arkansas

How much does an MRI Brain cost in Arkansas?

Across 60 Arkansas hospitals that publish prices, an MRI Brain ranges from $108 to $13,880, with a median of $1,027. Most facilities fall between $550 and $1,303. What you pay depends on the facility, your insurance, and whether you have met your deductible.

Where is the cheapest place to get an MRI Brain in Arkansas?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Arkansas data is St Bernards Community Hospital Corporation at about $108. By metro, Batesville has the lowest median ($472). Freestanding ambulatory surgery and imaging centers are often cheaper still and may not appear in hospital price data - ask your doctor whether one is an option.

Why is an MRI Brain so much cheaper at some Arkansas hospitals?

Prices vary up to 128.5× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Arkansas, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,027 versus a median negotiated rate of $224 - about 4.6× higher. Asking for the cash price or your insurer's negotiated rate is often the single biggest lever on what you pay.

How much will I actually pay out of pocket for an MRI Brain in Arkansas?

Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether the facility is in-network - not just the sticker price. If you have not met your deductible, you will typically pay the negotiated rate in full until you do. Use the CostKits cost forecaster to estimate your specific out-of-pocket amount before you go.

CostKits compiles hospital price transparency data to help families make informed decisions. Track and manage your healthcare costs (free account).