go back

First-Pass Nuclear Scan Of Heart Pumping Function

Minnesota 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?

$331

Typical negotiated rate. In Minnesota, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $331 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $331 from a physician practice, and about $468 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$331$269 to $427
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$468$166 to $1,072

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $468 · 10th to 90th $166 to $1,660Professionalmedian $331 · 10th to 90th $204 to $550
$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $468professional $331

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
$165.96
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$165.96
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$44.67
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$44.67
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$120.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$218.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$44.67
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$60.26
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$128.82
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$2,089.30
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$524.81
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$144.54
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$389.05
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$1,621.81
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$446.68
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$1,202.26
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$549.54
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$151.36
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$407.38
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$346.74
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$1,288.25
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$354.81
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$933.25
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$501.19
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$134.90
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$363.08
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$1,380.38
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$1,412.54
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$53.70
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$537.03
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$1,174.90
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$1,949.84
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$562.34
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$51.29
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$154.88
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$416.87
4 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
$83.18
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$83.18
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$109.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$43.65

Where Minnesota 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.

Minnesota· 7th of 51

$331

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.