go back

First-Pass Nuclear Scan Of Heart Pumping Function

Massachusetts 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?

$229

Typical negotiated rate. In Massachusetts, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $229 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $245 from a physician practice, and about $200 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$245$170 to $427
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$200$148 to $589

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $200 · 10th to 90th $62 to $1,445Professionalmedian $245 · 10th to 90th $87 to $1,479
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $200professional $245

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
$144.54
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$831.76
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$213.80
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$35.48
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$51.29
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$162.18
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$1,096.48
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$1,479.11
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$42.66
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$549.54
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$1,202.26
BCBS Massachusetts
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$707.95
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$2,041.74
BCBS Massachusetts
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$251.19
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$1,862.09
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$741.31
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$186.21
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$549.54
Fallon Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$58.88
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$269.15
Fallon Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$58.88
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$269.15
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$707.95
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$48.98
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$147.91
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$398.11
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$588.84
Typical High
$1,096.48
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$1,479.11
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$42.66
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$549.54
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$1,202.26
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$2,137.96
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$707.95
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$45.71
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$177.83
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$524.81
Well Sense
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$269.15
Well Sense
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$79.43
Well Sense
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$223.87
Well Sense
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$204.17
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
$70.79
Typical High
$107.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$28.84
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$42.66
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$169.82

Where Massachusetts 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.

Massachusetts· 30th of 51

$229

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.