go back

First-Pass Nuclear Scan Of Heart Pumping Function

Missouri 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?

$269

Typical negotiated rate. In Missouri, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $269 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $251 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$251$182 to $372
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$417$324 to $1,122

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $417 · 10th to 90th $224 to $1,698Professionalmedian $251 · 10th to 90th $155 to $603
$100$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $417professional $251

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
$338.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$173.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$39.81
Median
$42.66
Typical High
$48.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$125.89
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$371.54
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$89.13
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$288.40
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$562.34
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$269.15
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$1,737.80
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$354.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$102.33
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$257.04
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$1,659.59
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$1,412.54
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$537.03
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$1,174.90
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$1,819.70
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$562.34
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$46.77
Median
$61.66
Typical High
$154.88
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$407.38
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
$72.44
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$87.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$28.84
Median
$30.20
Typical High
$35.48
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$141.25

Where Missouri 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.

Missouri· 20th of 51

$269

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.