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First-Pass Nuclear Scan Of Heart Pumping Function

Louisiana 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?

$219

Typical negotiated rate. In Louisiana, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $219 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $204 from a physician practice, and about $589 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$204$170 to $214
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$589$447 to $912

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $589 · 10th to 90th $339 to $1,175Professionalmedian $204 · 10th to 90th $93 to $275
$100$200$500$1Kfacility $589professional $204

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
$190.55
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$954.99
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$562.34
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$213.80
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$53.70
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$63.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$151.36
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$371.54
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$1,148.15
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$275.42
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$58.88
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$81.28
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$204.17
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$39.81
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$154.88
Christus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$39.81
Median
$43.65
Typical High
$43.65
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$588.84
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$281.84
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$69.18
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$64.57
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$204.17
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$616.60
Median
$812.83
Typical High
$1,513.56
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$295.12
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$66.07
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$190.55
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
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$281.84
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$112.20
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$446.68
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$107.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$42.66
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$169.82

Where Louisiana 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.

Louisiana· 37th of 51

$219

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.