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Nuclear Scan for Thyroid Cancer That Has Spread

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 78016

A nuclear medicine scan that searches for thyroid tissue or thyroid cancer sitting outside the thyroid gland itself. The person is given a small amount of radioactive iodine, which thyroid cells take up wherever they are in the body, and a scanner then shows where it has collected.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Nuclear Scan for Thyroid Cancer That Has Spread cost?

$339

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $339 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $339 from a physician practice, and about $832 from a hospital or other facility.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$339$234 to $501
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$832$234 to $1,318

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $832 · 10th to 90th $234 to $1,318Professionalmedian $339 · 10th to 90th $214 to $724
$200$500$1Kfacility $832professional $339

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$234.42
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$245.47
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$33.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$213.80
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$57.54
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$104.71
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$602.56
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$831.76
Median
$1,318.26
Typical High
$1,318.26
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$776.25
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$42.66
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$95.50
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$676.08
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$389.05
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$389.05
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$281.84
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$575.44
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$41.69
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$95.50
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$524.81
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$218.78
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$758.58
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$37.15
Median
$52.48
Typical High
$95.50
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$645.65
8 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$123.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$46.77
Median
$46.77
Typical High
$48.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$186.21
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$371.54
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$81.28
Typical High
$147.91
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
81 · Minimal assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$104.71
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
82 · Assistant surgeon, no resident
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$104.71
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$104.71

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 4.6 times more in Alaska than in Texas. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

North Carolina· 30th of 51

$339

AK $1,023TX $224

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.