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Reviewed by John Caruso, FSA, MAAA • Data last updated

MRI Knee Cost in Louisiana (2026): Average Prices & What You'll Pay

What does a mri knee cost in Louisiana?

A typical mri knee in Louisiana costs $674–$1,899 for a commercially insured patient, including facility and physician fees. The median reported facility price across 41 hospitals is $1,244. This estimate is based on CMS fee schedules and hospital price transparency data published under federal law.

Where mri knee costs vary in Louisiana

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.

Hospital (below avg) Hospital (above avg) Imaging Center Click a pin for details.

26+ people checked prices near them this month.

Hospital MRI costs run 2–5× more than independent imaging centers. Most patients never knew they had a choice.

Your personalized cost report includes:

  • ✓ Why the exact same scan costs $400 at one site and $2,200 at another
  • ✓ The separate radiologist bill most patients miss (and how to verify it's in-network)
  • ✓ When contrast adds a charge - and when to ask if you need it
  • ✓ The questions to ask before scheduling that protect you from surprise bills
  • ✓ A real patient billing breakdown, line by line

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Cheapest MRI Knee Providers in Louisiana

Based on declared cash/self-pay prices from CMS hospital price transparency files.

# Facility City Price vs Median
1 Hospital Service District No 1 Parish of Avoyelles State of Louisiana LA $287 -$957
2 Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center Independence, LA $377 -$867
3 Cypress Pointe Surgical Hospital Hammond, LA $429 -$815
4 St James Parish Hospital Lutcher, LA $440 -$804
5 Fairway Medical Center Covington, LA $525 -$719
6 Ochsner St. Patrick Hospital Lake Charles, LA $539 -$705
7 Ochsner Lake Area Hospital Lake Charles, LA $539 -$705
8 Alexandria Emergency Hospital LA $550 -$694

Prices are declared self-pay rates. Contact each facility for a formal quote before scheduling.

Quick take

  • Hospital Service District No 1 Parish of Avoyelles State of Louisiana is the lowest-cost option at $287 - $957 below the state median, just by choosing where you go.
  • Ask for the cash price if your deductible isn't met - the median cash price here is $1,244, and it's often lower than what insurance pays before your deductible is satisfied.
  • Freestanding ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) are often 30-60% cheaper than hospital outpatient departments for the same procedure and may not appear in this hospital-only dataset - ask your doctor if one is an option.

How where you go changes what you pay for mri knee

The same mri knee bundles different services depending on the setting - facility fee, surgeon fee, and anesthesia each arrive as separate bills. Estimated ranges below reflect the typical full bundled cost, including all expected charges.

Hospital Outpatient
$532–$6,183
  • Facility fee $221–$4,619
  • Professional fee $311–$1,564

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Hospital Inpatient
$551–$15,118
  • Facility fee $240–$13,554
  • Professional fee $311–$1,564

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

Independent Imaging Center
$404–$908
  • technical_component $292–$608
  • professional_interpretation $112–$300

Estimated from CMS fee schedules + commercial rate multipliers

LCMC Health, Ochsner Health System, and Willis-Knighton are the major players in Louisiana's concentrated hospital market. Louisana Medicaid covers a substantial share of the population, and many facilities carry high uncompensated care costs that influence their list price structures. Louisiana prices on the commercial side tend to run above the Southeast average. Knee MRI is one of the most commonly ordered orthopedic imaging studies and one of the clearest examples of site-of-service pricing: the identical scan costs $200–$500 at an independent imaging center and $1,500–$3,500 at a hospital outpatient department. Most knee MRIs are ordered non-urgently after an orthopedic consultation, giving patients time to compare prices across freestanding centers before scheduling. Contrast is rarely needed for routine knee MRI.

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 (2) report prices above $4,064, including CALDWELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL at $4,619, 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 $1,050 versus $1,658 inpatient (about 1.6× 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.

Your situation Estimated out-of-pocket
Deductible not yet met ~$1,357
Deductible met - 20% coinsurance ~$271
Out-of-network provider $2,985+

Frequently asked questions: MRI Knee costs in Louisiana

How much does an MRI Knee cost in Louisiana?

Across 41 Louisiana hospitals that publish prices, an MRI Knee ranges from $110 to $13,554, with a median of $1,244. Most facilities fall between $542 and $1,741. 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 Knee in Louisiana?

Based on declared prices, the lowest-cost facility in our Louisiana data is Natchitoches Regional Medical Center in Natchitoches at about $221. By metro, Slidell has the lowest median ($532). 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 Knee so much cheaper at some Louisiana hospitals?

Prices vary up to 123.2× because each hospital sets its own list price, cash discount, and insurer-negotiated rates. In Louisiana, the median cash (self-pay) price is $1,244 versus a median negotiated rate of $222 - about 5.6× 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 Knee in Louisiana?

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.

Before you book

Other procedures in Louisiana

MRI Knee, elsewhere

Other Louisiana Hospitals for MRI Knee

These hospitals are registered in the CMS National Provider Identifier (NPI) registry as active hospitals in Louisiana. Cost estimates use the bundled service model for each place of service. Contact them directly for a formal quote.

Provider City Type Est. Cost
999999
5048412209 		METAIRIE, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ABBEVILLE GENERAL HOSPITAL
3378935466 		ABBEVILLE, LA Rural Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ACADIA GENERAL HOSPITAL, INC.
3377833222 		CROWLEY, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ACADIA WOUND CARE AND HYPERBARICS
3377882014 		CROWLEY, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ACADIA-ST. LANDRY HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT
3376845435 		CHURCH POINT, LA Critical Access Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ACADIA-ST. LANDRY HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT
3376845435 		CHURCH POINT, LA Critical Access Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ALEXANDRI VA MEDICAL CENTER
3184730010 		PINEVILLE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ALEXANDRIA VA MEDICAL CENTER
3184730010 		PINEVILLE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ALEXANDRIA VAMC
6153553451 		PINEVILLE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ALLEGIANCE HEALTH MANAGEMENT
3186293272 		SHREVEPORT, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ALLEGIANCE HOSPITAL OF MANY LLC
3186456161 		ZWOLLE, LA Rural Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ALLEGIANCE HOSPITAL OF MANY, LLC
3182562000 		MANY, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
▼ Show 88 more Louisiana hospitals (of 451 registered)
ALLEGIANCE HOSPITAL OF MANY,LLC
3186456168 		ZWOLLE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ALLEGIANCE HOSPITAL OF MANY,LLC
3182561136 		MANY, LA Rural Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ALLEN PARISH HOSPITAL
3377389489 		KINDER, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ALLEN PARISH HOSPITAL DISTRICT NO 3
3377389489 		KINDER, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ALLEN PARISH HOSPITAL DISTRICT NO 3
3377382527 		KINDER, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
AMD HEALTHCARE LC, LLC
3375130817 		LAKE CHARLES, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
AMERICAN LEGION HOSPITAL
3377833222 		CROWLEY, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ANESTHESIA ASSOCIATES
3374782124 		LAKE CHARLES, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BATON ROUGE GENERAL DIABETES CENTER
2253877678 		BATON ROUGE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BATON ROUGE GENERAL HOSPITAL
2253816066 		BATON ROUGE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BATON ROUGE GENERAL MEDICAL CENTER
2253877000 		BATON ROUGE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BATON ROUGE SPECIALTY HOSPITAL
2254909600 		BATON ROUGE, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BEAUREGARD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIANS
3374627100 		DERIDDER, LA Rural Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BERNICE COMMUNITY REHAB HOSPITAL
3183775555 		MINDEN, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BIENVILLE MEDICAL CENTER PHYSICIAN GROUP
3186295340 		ARCADIA, LA Critical Access Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BIENVILLE MEDICAL CENTER, INC.
3182634700 		ARCADIA, LA Critical Access Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BIENVILLE MEDICAL CENTER, INC.
3182634700 		ARCADIA, LA Critical Access Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BLIANT SPECIALTY HOSPITAL, LLC
5043785070 		NEW ORLEANS, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BORNE 2B-NP,LLC
9857880691 		PEARL RIVER, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BOSSIER SPECIALTY HOSPITAL ,LLC
3185492011 		BOSSIER CITY, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BRFHH MONROE LLC
3183307528 		MONROE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BRFHH MONROE, LLC
3183307000 		MONROE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BRFHH SHREVEPORT LLC
3186260000 		SHREVEPORT, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BRFHH SHREVEPORT, LLC
3186755000 		SHREVEPORT, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BRIDGEPOINT HEALTHCARE LOUISIANA LLC
5028888243 		METAIRIE, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BRIDGEPOINT HEALTHCARE LOUISIANA LLC
5043492470 		MARRERO, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BUNKIE GENERAL HOSPITAL
3183466681 		BUNKIE, LA Critical Access Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
BYRD REGIONAL HOSPITAL
3372399041 		LEESVILLE, LA Rural Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CALCASIEU CAMERON HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT
3375277034 		SULPHUR, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CALCASIEU CAMERON HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT
3375276416 		SULPHUR, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CALDWELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL INC
3186496111 		COLUMBIA, LA Rural Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CAMILLUS SPECIALTY HOSPITAL LLC
5043911500 		GRETNA, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CHALMETTE MEDICAL CENTER, INC.
6107683413 		CHALMETTE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CHG HOSPITAL BOSSIER CITY, LLC
3187479500 		BOSSIER CITY, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CHG HOSPITAL WEST MONROE, LLC
3183965600 		WEST MONROE, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CHILDREN' S HOSPITAL
5048969386 		NEW ORLEANS, LA Children's Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
5048969511 		NEW ORLEANS, LA Children's Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CHRISTUS CONTINUING CARE
3184486505 		ALEXANDRIA, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CHRISTUS HEALTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA
3189322000 		COUSHATTA, LA Critical Access Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CHRISTUS HEALTH NORTHERN LOUISIANA
3186814500 		SHREVEPORT, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CHRISTUS HEALTH SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA
3374362511 		LAKE CHARLES, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CHRISTUS HEALTH SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA
3374362511 		LAKE CHARLES, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CLHG - MINDEN, LLC
3183772321 		MINDEN, LA Rural Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CLHG-ACADIAN, LLC
3375807500 		EUNICE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CLHG-AVOYELLES, LLC
3182538611 		MARKSVILLE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CLHG-DEQUINCY, LLC
3377861200 		DEQUINCY, LA Critical Access Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CLHG-LEESVILLE
3372399041 		LEESVILLE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CLHG-LEESVILLE
3182399041 		LEESVILLE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CLHG-OAKDALE, LLC
3183353700 		OAKDALE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CLHG-RUSTON LLC
3182542100 		RUSTON, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CLHG-VILLE PLATTE LLC
3373639410 		VILLE PLATTE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CLHG-WINN, LLC
3186483000 		WINNFIELD, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
COMMUNITY BIRTH GROUP
8003418598 		BALL, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
COMMUNITY BIRTH GROUP
8003418598 		SULPHUR, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CONCORDIA PARISH HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NUMBER ONE
3187576551 		FERRIDAY, LA Critical Access Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CONCORDIA PARISH HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NUMBER ONE
3187576551 		FERRIDAY, LA Critical Access Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CONTINUING CARE COMPANY (HOSP), L.P.
5043492134 		MARRERO, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CORNERSTONE HOSPITAL OF BOSSIER
3187479500 		BOSSIER CITY, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CORNERSTONE HOSPITAL OF SOUTHWEST
3375271102 		SULPHUR, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CORNERSTONE HOSPITAL OF WEST MONROE
3183965600 		WEST MONROE, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CORNERSTONE POST ACUTE CARE OF BOSSIER LLC
3188346641 		BOSSIER CITY, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
COVINGTON -AMG SPECIALTY HOSPITAL, LLC
9858673977 		COVINGTON, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CRESCENT CITY SURGICAL CENTRE OPERATING COMPANY, L.L.C.
5048302500 		METAIRIE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
CRESCENT CITY SURGICAL CENTRE OPERATING COMPANY, L.L.C.
5048302500 		METAIRIE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
DEANA LEONARD
9855326979 		RACELAND, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER
3184730010 		PINEVILLE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER, ALEXANDRIA,LA
3184730010 		PINEVILLE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
DEQUINCY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
3377861200 		DEQUINCY, LA Critical Access Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
DEQUINCY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL,INC
3377861200 		DEQUINCY, LA Critical Access Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
DIABETES EDUCATION OF LAKE CHARLES MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
3374946425 		LAKE CHARLES, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
DOCTORS HOSPITAL @ DEER CREEK, LLC
3373925088 		LEESVILLE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
DOCTORS HOSPITAL AT DEER CREEK LLC
3373925088 		LEESVILLE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
DOCTORS' HOSPITAL AT DEER CREEK, LLC
5042741102 		LEESVILLE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
DOCTORS' HOSPITAL OF SLIDELL, LLC
9856908200 		SLIDELL, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
DR LISA BAILEY DDS, APDC
2256444976 		GONZALES, LA Radiology Provider $404–$908 bundled est.
DUBUIS HEALTH SYSTEM, INC.
3374917752 		LAKE CHARLES, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
DUBUIS HEALTH SYSTEM, INC.
3186781060 		SHREVEPORT, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
DUBUIS HEALTH SYSTEM, INC.
3184486505 		ALEXANDRIA, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
E.A.CONWAY MEDICAL STAFF GROUP
3183307858 		MONROE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
EARL K. LONG MEDICAL CENTER
2253581000 		BATON ROUGE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
EARL K. LONG MEDICIAL CENTER
2253581065 		BATON ROUGE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
EAST BATON ROUGE MEDICAL CENTER LLC
2257554800 		BATON ROUGE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
EAST CARROLL PARISH HOSPITAL
3185594023 		LAKE PROVIDENCE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
EAST JEFFERSON GENERAL HOSPITAL
5045036868 		METAIRIE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
EAST JEFFERSON GENERAL HOSPITAL
5044544855 		METAIRIE, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
EBONYSLACEWIGS
5046211265 		NEW ORLEANS, LA Long Term Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
ETHICUS HOSPITAL-SHREVEPORT, LLC
7135722222 		BOSSIER CITY, LA General Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.
FRANKLIN PARISH HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NO1
3184359411 		WINNSBORO, LA Rural Acute Care Hospital $532–$6,183 bundled est.

Est. cost = bundled estimate (facility fee + professional fee + anesthesia where applicable) based on CMS fee schedules and commercial rate multipliers. Contact each provider for an actual quote.

Source: CMS NPPES NPI Registry. NPI numbers can be verified at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov.

What matters before you schedule

ASC vs. hospital

Hospital outpatient departments typically charge 2-4x more than ASCs or independent centers for the same mri knee - same outcome, very different bill. The ER charges the most of any setting and should only be used when the situation is medically urgent. Call ahead and ask for a self-pay or cash quote at each setting you're considering.

With vs. without contrast

Which type your doctor orders for this mri knee changes the billing code, and what you pay. For example: A standard mri knee with no contrast dye - the most common and lowest-cost version.

This is shoppable

MRI Knee is elective and schedulable, so you have time to compare facilities before booking - hospital outpatient prices often run 2-4x higher than alternative settings for the identical clinical outcome.

What to ask before you book

Get the CPT code from your doctor, confirm every provider involved (not just the facility) is in-network, ask for the cash-pay rate if you're uninsured or haven't met your deductible, and request a written estimate for mri knee before you schedule.

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

Other Procedure Costs in Louisiana

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About the Author

John Caruso, FSA, MAAA

Healthcare actuary with 20+ years of experience in insurance pricing, medical billing systems, and healthcare cost analytics.

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Published July 17, 2026

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