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CPT 72148: MRI of Lumbar Spinal Canal Without Contrast
CPT code 72148 represents a non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of the lumbar spinal canal and contents. As a commonly ordered diagnostic exam for low back pain, radiculopathy, disc disease, and suspected spinal stenosis, this code is central to imaging pathways that guide surgical and non-surgical management of lumbar spine disorders. Nationally, MRI utilization for lumbar indications affects imaging capacity, clinical workflows, and payer coverage policies due to its role in diagnosis and care planning.
Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication outlines what clinicians, billing staff, and policy analysts need to know about CPT code 72148, including clinical context, typical sites of service, coding comparators (contrast-enhanced study 72149), and common diagnostic indications such as low back pain, lumbar disc displacement, spinal stenosis, and radiculopathy.
Readers will find concise benchmarks and policy-relevant information: an explanation of the service represented by the code, common clinical scenarios that drive use, payer coverage considerations, and operational implications for imaging providers. The content is designed to support accurate coding, claims submission, and alignment of clinical imaging use with payer policies and national practice patterns.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 72148 describes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spinal canal and its contents without contrast. This diagnostic imaging service captures cross-sectional images of the lumbar spine to evaluate spinal canal structures, intervertebral discs, nerve roots, and surrounding soft tissues.
Service type: Diagnostic MRI, lumbar spine, without contrast
Typical site of service: Outpatient imaging center or hospital radiology department
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Commercial averages sit substantially above Medicare: Blue Cross Blue Shield and BUCA averages are $759.70 and $536.60 respectively, versus Medicare’s mean of $132.90, indicating commercial reimbursements often exceed Medicare by multiples. That gap highlights where negotiated commercial contracts concentrate reimbursement well north of the $132.90 Medicare baseline.
Dispersion varies by payer. Blue Cross Blue Shield shows a P75–P25 spread of $617.60 (from $615.70 to $874.30), the widest among listed payers, while Aetna’s spread is $191.60 (from $90.20 to $290.60), one of the tightest. UnitedHealth Group and Cigna have intermediate spreads of $211.60 and $238.10 respectively. BUCA’s interquartile spread is $248.00 and Medicare’s IQR is $112.50, indicating Medicare reimbursements are comparatively concentrated around their median.