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First-Pass Nuclear Scan Of Heart Pumping Function

New Jersey 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?

$209

Typical negotiated rate. In New Jersey, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $209 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $204 from a physician practice, and about $603 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$182 to $295
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$603$295 to $2,042

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $603 · 10th to 90th $282 to $2,818Professionalmedian $204 · 10th to 90th $170 to $380
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $603professional $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
$186.21
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$194.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$204.17
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$41.69
Median
$42.66
Typical High
$46.77
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$154.88
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$295.12
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$645.65
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$457.09
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$93.33
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$331.13
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$229.09
Horizon BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$11,748.98
Horizon BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$17,782.79
Typical High
$27,542.29
Horizon BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$407.38
Horizon BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$46.77
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$89.13
Horizon BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$316.23
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,047.13
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$2,290.87
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$380.19
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$95.50
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$281.84
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
$83.18
Median
$97.72
Typical High
$102.33
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$40.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$154.88

Where New Jersey 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.

New Jersey· 39th of 51

$209

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.