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Nuclear Study of Where Red Cells Are Broken Down

Pennsylvania rates for HCPCS 78140

A nuclear medicine study in which a sample of the patient's own red blood cells is tagged with a small amount of radioactive marker, returned to the bloodstream, and then followed to see where in the body those cells are being trapped and destroyed. Readings taken over the following days show whether the spleen, the liver, or both are responsible.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Nuclear Study of Where Red Cells Are Broken Down cost?

$126

Typical negotiated rate. In Pennsylvania, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $126 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $112 from a physician practice, and about $417 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$112$100 to $182
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$417$245 to $832

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $417 · 10th to 90th $112 to $1,349Professionalmedian $112 · 10th to 90th $91 to $214
$100$500$2K$10K$50Kfacility $417professional $112

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
$112.20
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$457.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$112.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$24.55
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$87.10
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
$616.60
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$5,011.87
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$331.13
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$74.13
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$257.04
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$1,258.93
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$239.88
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$50.12
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$190.55
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$186.21
Geisinger
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$234.42
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$257.04
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$51.29
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$199.53
Martin's Point
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$457.09
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$112.20
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$24.55
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$87.10
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$338.84
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$676.08
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$181.97
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.99
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$151.36
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
$97.72
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$213.80
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$48.98
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$173.78
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
$45.71
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$56.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$18.20
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$22.39
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$89.13
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$45.71
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$56.23
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$18.20
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$22.39
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$89.13

Where Pennsylvania sits

The same service costs 4.6 times more in Alabama 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

$126

AL $479TX $105

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.