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Nuclear Scan for Thyroid Cancer That Has Spread

Pennsylvania 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?

$269

Typical negotiated rate. In Pennsylvania, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $269 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $269 from a physician practice, and about $676 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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$269$234 to $347
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$676$372 to $1,122

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $676 · 10th to 90th $269 to $1,349Professionalmedian $269 · 10th to 90th $200 to $501
$100$1K$10Kfacility $676professional $269

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

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$933.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$269.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$32.36
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$239.88
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,265.80
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$79,432.82
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$5,011.87
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$676.08
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$83.18
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$588.84
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$776.25
Typical High
$1,258.93
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$501.19
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$66.07
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$436.52
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$426.58
Geisinger
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$204.17
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$457.09
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$66.07
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$389.05
Martin's Point
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$933.25
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$269.15
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$32.36
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$239.88
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$489.78
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$676.08
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$288.40
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$44.67
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$239.88
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$1,174.90
Typical High
$1,348.96
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$537.03
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$64.57
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$478.63
6 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
$109.65
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$134.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$46.77
Typical High
$53.70
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$218.78
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$134.90
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$46.77
Typical High
$53.70
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$218.78

Where Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania· 46th of 51

$269

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.