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First-Pass Nuclear Scan Of Heart Pumping Function

New York 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?

$166

Typical negotiated rate. In New York, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $166 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $166 from a physician practice, and about $182 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$166$148 to $186
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$182$151 to $437

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $182 · 10th to 90th $126 to $776Professionalmedian $166 · 10th to 90th $135 to $331
$100$200$500$1Kfacility $182professional $166

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
$117.49
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$1,202.26
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$194.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$48.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$154.88
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$323.59
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$77.62
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$234.42
CDPHP
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$251.19
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$1,348.96
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$851.14
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$141.25
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$562.34
Emblem Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$416.87
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$354.81
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$46.77
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$93.33
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$263.03
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$151.36
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$91.20
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$208.93
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$42.66
Typical High
$58.88
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$151.36
MVP Health Care
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$257.04
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$512.86
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$1,584.89
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$436.52
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$36.31
Median
$52.48
Typical High
$117.49
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$331.13
Univera
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$489.78
Univera
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$354.81
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$208.93
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$27.54
Median
$42.66
Typical High
$60.26
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$151.36
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
$58.88
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$100.00
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$39.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$93.33
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$154.88

Where New York 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 York· 48th of 51

$166

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.