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First-Pass Nuclear Scan Of Heart Pumping Function

Illinois 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?

$263

Typical negotiated rate. In Illinois, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $263 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $234 from a physician practice, and about $692 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$234$162 to $288
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$692$417 to $1,023

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $692 · 10th to 90th $229 to $1,549Professionalmedian $234 · 10th to 90th $145 to $372
$50$100$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $692professional $234

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
$141.25
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$501.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$165.96
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$43.65
Typical High
$43.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$120.23
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$1,698.24
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$1,122.02
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$354.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$45.71
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$97.72
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$263.03
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$478.63
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$46.77
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$144.54
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$354.81
Hally Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$100.00
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$208.93
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,288.25
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$1,479.11
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$346.74
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$48.98
Median
$64.57
Typical High
$91.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$263.03
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
$70.79
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$83.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$33.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$125.89

Where Illinois 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.

Illinois· 22nd of 51

$263

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.