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First-Pass Nuclear Scan Of Heart Pumping Function

Colorado rates for HCPCS 78481

A radioactive tracer is injected into a vein and a camera records its very first sweep through the chambers of the heart. From that recording the scan measures how much of the blood in a chamber is pushed out with each beat, which is a direct measure of pumping strength. A single study is performed, either with the patient at rest or with the heart under stress.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does First-Pass Nuclear Scan Of Heart Pumping Function cost?

$282

Typical negotiated rate. In Colorado, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $282 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $263 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$263$209 to $347
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$417$295 to $525

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $417 · 10th to 90th $155 to $1,072Professionalmedian $263 · 10th to 90th $170 to $427
$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $417professional $263

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
$120.23
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$169.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$181.97
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$45.71
Typical High
$48.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$131.83
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$389.05
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$851.14
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$478.63
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$51.29
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$125.89
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$371.54
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$2,187.76
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$398.11
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$61.66
Typical High
$100.00
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$302.00
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$363.08
Denver HMP
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$316.23
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$354.81
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$42.66
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$95.50
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$263.03
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$354.81
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$229.09
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,344.23
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$2,818.38
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$426.58
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$42.66
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$117.49
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$295.12
3 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
$67.61
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$102.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$40.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$162.18

Where Colorado sits

The same service costs 4.8 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.

Colorado· 15th of 51

$282

AK $676TX $141

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.