After several months of pain in your shoulder or knee and conservative measures, you feel something more serious may be going on in your joint. A tear? Cartilage damage? Ligament injury? Plain film x-rays will likely not show these types of injuries and soft tissue damage. So you really just want to get an MRI to get to the root of the problem. You want to know what is causing your chronic shoulder or knee pain.
So, you are pretty sure you need an MRI. Now what? Call your doctor to get a referral? It is likely your doctor (and the insurance company) will want you to come in for an office visit. But that takes time and money.
The visit can seem sort of silly: you recap what you've done for your shoulder or knee pain over the last few weeks to months. Your doctor asks if you have tried the usuals: NSAIDs (e.g. Ibuprofen), Physical Therapy and activity modification.
You ask for an MRI referral. Your doctor responds with something like, “An MRI would be nice to evaluate your knee / shoulder pain, but it can cost a lot of money. Your insurance may not approve it or cover it without some hassle factor. I suspect you’ll need something called a ‘prior authorization’ which is sort of a pain in the butt and requires some paperwork shuffle between us and your insurance. And even after doing the paperwork and ensuring my documentation supports the need for a MRI, your insurance may still slap a denial stamp on our referral. So...what would you like me to do? “
How great would it be if you could just request a referral for an MRI online? A "no referral MRI" or "self referral MRI" so to speak. Avoid the hassles of taking time off work for a doctor’s appointment. Let your online concierge physician from Cirrus Medical Network (CirrusMED) help you get that MRI. Which pathway below looks more appealing?
Get an MRI quicker with your CirrusMED physician.
Can I get a MRI for head is your service expensive and are you able to make an appointment at Any MRI facility in the USA
Hello John,
Once you establish as a member, your physician will review your medical history and perform a virtual visit. If an MRI is deemed medically necessary, then certainly we can order an MRI. From there, we can send the order to any diagnostic imaging center of your choice. Generally we can do the ‘prior authorization’ if required by your insurance company. All of those services are included in your membership fee. As for facilities, we do not contract directly with any specific imaging facility. Rather, we encourage people to shop around (ask for ‘cash price’ if needed) or use an imaging center contracted with their insurance. We have had members get MRI’s, CT scans and Ultrasounds all around the USA. Several websites list costs for diagnostic imaging services, so that’s a good place to start, but it doesn’t hurts to ask around your local region first. Most imaging centers will require an ordering physician…that’s where we come in.
Please could you assist me I need an MRI for my two year old son who was diagnosed with an abnormal retrocochlear bilaterally
For clinical inquiries, we cannot provide medical advice via a public blog forum, due to privacy laws. For those seeking specific clinical advice, we recommend establishing care with one of our doctors.
I’m I able to utilize your services without insurance?
Absolutely! We do not bill insurance, so it is not needed.
Thank you! That is my exact question. I want an MRI done on my brain for my own reasons and I will pay.
How does one go about having this done?
I’m in the Los Angeles area. I need an MRI of my brain.I am not sick it’s for other reasons. There is no doctor or insurance involved. I have my reasons.
Where can I go to pay and set an appointment for this? Please help me with this question.
It was hard enough just to find this sight with my question.
Most imaging centers require a doctor’s order before they can schedule your MRI. That’s where we come in. Using telemedicine, you connect with a physician online, who reviews your case and then sends the order if clinically appropriate.
Simply sign up at https://cirrusmed.com , fill out the intake forms, choose a doctor, and choose “MRI/Imaging referral” under the list of services. Then, you will be able to message, or set up an appointment with your doctor. After the referral is sent to your preferred imaging center, you arrange the scan appointment with the center. Upon receipt of the imaging report, it will be shared with you via the website portal.
I need mri for my head urgent
For clinical inquiries, we cannot provide medical advice via a public blog forum, due to privacy laws. For those seeking specific clinical advice, we recommend establishing care with one of our doctors.
Is this available in florida, i want To get an MRI for my toddler. The pediatritian doesn’t considered necessary But I do
Gabriela,
Unfortunately the logistics involved with getting an MRI for a toddler is outside of the scope of our services. Generally, with very young patients the attending physician (pediatrician in this case) may need to arrange for anesthesia to be present. The institution may require a physician with local hospital privileges to coordinate. For patients over the age of 13, this is usually not an issue. Perhaps, get a second opinion with another pediatrician or family physician? Best of luck!
I have been trying to get an MRI for years.All Ive gotten is the run around.Im trying to get a lawyer now.Maybe they can do something to help me.Soc.Sec have denied me over 4 times.My bad condition is constantly getting worse.HELP
Qwanna,
Unfortunately we cannot provide specific medical advice (especially in a public forum), without a consultation. CirrusMED physicians are able to address your concerns and order MRI’s. Please check out our membership options. Thank you!
I noticed this was written in 2014. Can I still get a prescription for a shoulder MRI on this website? I’ve already had X-rays. No insurance. Paying out of pocket for MRI. My physical therapist has suggested I get an MRI in order to make sure I don’t have a subluxation.
Unfortunately we cannot provide specific medical advice (especially in a public forum), without a consultation. CirrusMED physicians are able to address your concerns and order an MRI if deemed necessary. Please check out our membership options. Thank you!
I need a knee MRI here in Davie, Fl
Knee MRI orders are relatively easy to process.
I have had back pain for years upon getting up in the morning or sitting for prolonged periods. My old rheumatologist suspected SpA and was treating me for that.She saw changes in my X-rays that indicated early evidence of SI joint damage. My insurance changed and I had to change rheumatologists. The new Dr.does not agree with the diagnosis and says he “only’ sees osteoarthritis. He ignored my other symptoms but did say he would see me in 3 months and advised me to stay on the meloxicam I am taking daily. No one has ever suggested doing an MRI even though I read that this is a more definitive way to see early damage and treat it BEFORE it becomes permanent. I want to get an MRI of my lower spine and SI joints. I had a friend who was dismissed like this and, in the end she ended up with permanent, irreversible shoulder damage due to RA which could have been slowed or prevented with treatment. Can you authorize an MRI for a situation like this?
Unfortunately we cannot provide specific medical advice (especially in a public forum), without a consultation. CirrusMED physicians are able to address your concerns and possibly order the MRI’s you are requesting. Please check out our membership options. Thank you!
Can you work with straight Medi-cal?. How long will the process take? Are their out of pocket costs?
We do not work directly with MediCal. If, after consultation with your CirrusMED physician, it is determined that an MRI is necessary, then an order will be sent to an imaging center of your choice. If MediCal agrees that indeed the MRI is medically necessary, then it may be convered. Sometimes a prior authorization is required, which may or may not be performed by your CirrusMED physician. If MediCal declines to cover the MRI, then you will be responsible for the cash price of the MRI. The cash price varies from facility to facility and depends on the type of MRI ordered. We always encourage our patients to “shop around” for the best priced MRI.
I am looking for a script for either mri or msk ultrasound or both for my foot and ankles. Will pay out of pocket. Just looking for script.
We are able to order imaging studies (MRI, Ultrasound, etc.) to the imaging center of your choice. Please look at our membership options. After signing up, your online physician will review your case and order the appropriate study.
I was diagnosed with MS 12 years ago and my original diagnoses was lost when i moved to Florida along with all my other records and the place is no longer open. I have found a place that does MRI’ S in my area I can afford, but my doctor for the last two years just closed and can’t write a script for it and the new doc won’t take me without it. Any suggestions on how to get an MRI for the place i can afford without a script??
Good for you for shopping around for an imaging center that will accept cash pay. We can evaluate your case and, if deemed necessary, order an MRI to be done at the facility of your choice. The results will be returned to your CirrusMED doctor and shared with you.
The only reason why I would join this company would be for a MRI order. I would be livid if I spent 49 bucks and wasted my time speaking with your doctors and a MRI was denied. I would expect a refund.
Our doctors review the request and order based on clinical necessity. This is done through review of your medical history and consultation as necessary. At times, the initial request needs to be modified based on the physician’s clinical judgement. However, since our patients are paying directly to for the referral and directly to the imaging center (cash pay), there is little in the way of denying an MRI/imaging study…unlike traditional channels using one’s insurance. We do not do prior authorizations, nor deal with insurance requests since they are often looking for ways to deny payment. That being said, most independent imaging centers will work with ‘cash pay’ patients and provide significant discounts. That being said, we do offer refunds if the referral is unable to be completed for whatever reason.
Hi I have a cavernous malformation in my brain and I’m suppose to be be getting MRI check ups on it but it has been awhile since I had one.Recently I have had problems that are pointing to the malformation bleeding or swelling.Memory Loss,constant headaches,dizziness etc.so I asked my doctor do MRI referral and it has been 3 months!I have insurance and every time I ask about my referral I get told that it hasn’t gone Thru insurance yet that they are working on it and will get in touch.This cavernous malformation is suppose to be removed if it got worse.I don’t understand what is taking so long especially on something as important as this.What would I need to do to get MRI through you?
Beth,
Unfortunately, health insurance imposes several roadblocks to care (I know, contrary to popular belief). Health insurance does NOT equal health care. MRI’s are typically a high-cost service and therefore insurance companies will try to limit utilization and therefore control their costs. So, even if an MRI is clinically indicated, and your doctor order’s it, it may not be easily obtained nor “covered” by your insurance. Likely, a “prior authorization” will be needed, which often requires your physician to contact the insurance company rep (ever try calling a large insurance company??) and pleading your case to a non-clinical provider (RN, NP, or MD). Most doctors do not want to take the time/effort to fight the insurance company, and therefore either downright refuse to do it, or haphazardly try and then give up — not worth it to them and too busy. That’s just the reality.
That is where direct care comes in. There is a movement of direct care that has taken hold out of this frustration. Cirrus Medical Network is just one of many organization that offer direct pay care. Eliminating insurance drives down the costs by reducing all of the middlemen and hassle factors. We offer direct primary care online. Retain one of our physicians online. Have your case reviewed and then, if clinically indicated (i.e. the doctor, not the insurance company, recommends the MRI or similar test), the order will be sent directly to the imaging center of your choice. This is done via telemedicine. Independent imaging centers with cash-pay options are best suited for this model of care. Hospital systems are more suited to insurance based services and usually are less willing to work with you.
Sorry for the long-winded answer, but basically if you just need an MRI — sign-up for the “Diagnostic Imaging/MRI referral” here: https://cirrusmedicalnetwork.com/mri/
Make sure to read the detail and feel free to message us with questions.
-CirrusMED team
I need a prescription for a 3T prostate MRI with and without contrast. If I submit my request online, how certain can I be that you will issue a prescription? What happens to my payment if you do not issue a prescription? Thanks !!
Prostate MRI’s are on our list of imaging referrals: https://cirrusmedicalnetwork.com/diagnostic-imaging-list/ Note that we reserve the right to decline an imaging referral if 1) test and or clinical situation is out of the scope of telemedicine 2) if our physician deems the test inappropriate. In either case, we may offer a refund — but please check prior to purchasing an imaging referral. Remember — $49 is MUCH less expensive than going to your primary care physician or a specialist, and then dealing with insurance hassles (prior authorizations). We do not process prior authorizations and we ask that you tell the imaging center that you are paying cash for the MRI (usually discounted significantly).
How are you? My daughter says she need a brain scan she has headaches and forgetfulness will this qualify for a referral she is 16
We can create a referral for your daughter assuming her clinical situation justifies the need for a scan.
Hello, I am confused because in one of the comments you stated that “generally we can do the ‘prior authorization’ if required by your insurance company”, but in other comments you replied that you do not. I feel misled. Is prior authorization something that you can do or not? I really need coverage by my insurance because I can’t afford it. Let me know, thanks.
Hi,
Our service is “direct pay”, which allows one to get a referral and the MRI much sooner than via traditional insurance-based avenues. If you elect to use your insurance to get an MRI/Imaging Test, it will undoubtedly require prior authorization from your insurance carrier. Typically a face-to-face evaluation by an in-network physician is necessary along with submission of clinical notes. This is a lengthy and often costly endeavor due to multiple visits and back office paperwork shuffle. Without those, there is a strong likelihood that coverage will be denied. If you are determined to use your insurance for payment, we suggest going through traditional channels rather than via telemedicine. If you would rather get your MRI or x-ray sooner, without the hassles, and you are willing to pay a discounted cash rate (multiple discount imaging websites out there and independent imaging centers often offer hugely discounted cash rates), then our service is perfect. If you elect to submit your clinical information and attempt to process the prior authorization on your own, we are more than happy to share what medical records we have for you, given your expressed consent. While it can be done, it is not always a given, nor is it always straight-forward. All this being said, we may provide prior authorization service in the future, but it will likely be offered at a higher price point due to the increased administrative burden dealing with health insurance.
I’m re asking my question due to an auto correct answer. I feel like I either have a mass or loose cartilage to the side of my xiphoid process. Am I able to get an mri for this?
Is it possible to get a CT angiogram request from you?
I will pay from my pocket.
Please see our list of services here: https://cirrusmedicalnetwork.com/diagnostic-imaging-list/
CT angiogram is not on the list. sorry.
Can you guys prescribe corticosteroid injections?
Sorry, we are unable to “prescribe corticosteroid injections”. Those are usually handled in the office. Thanks for asking! 🙂
Hi. I feel like I have either a mass or loose cartilage near my zip hood process. Are you able to refer mri for area?
For clinical inquiries, we cannot provide medical advice via a public blog forum, due to privacy laws. For those seeking specific clinical advice, we recommend establishing care with one of our doctors.
Need help on getting a mri
Hi, simply register here: https://cirrusmedicalnetwork.com/how-it-works/ Then choose a doctor in your state offering our “MRI / Diagnostic Imaging Referral” service.