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First-Pass Nuclear Scan Of Heart Pumping Function

Pennsylvania 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?

$182

Typical negotiated rate. In Pennsylvania, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $182 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $170 from a physician practice, and about $589 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$170$155 to $257
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$589$339 to $1,148

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $589 · 10th to 90th $170 to $1,820Professionalmedian $170 · 10th to 90th $141 to $324
$200$1K$5K$20Kfacility $589professional $170

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
$169.82
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$588.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$169.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$45.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$125.89
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,265.80
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$79,432.82
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$912.01
Median
$1,122.02
Typical High
$5,011.87
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$416.87
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$44.67
Median
$46.77
Typical High
$114.82
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$114.82
Typical High
$302.00
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$1,621.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$346.74
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$52.48
Typical High
$89.13
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$263.03
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$275.42
Geisinger
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$309.03
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$371.54
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$89.13
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$275.42
Martin's Point
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$588.84
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$169.82
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$44.67
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$102.33
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$125.89
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$512.86
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$977.24
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$251.19
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$45.71
Median
$53.70
Typical High
$53.70
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$199.53
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$1,819.70
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$338.84
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$91.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$257.04
6 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
$74.13
Typical High
$85.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$33.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$138.04
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$70.79
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$85.11
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$28.18
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$33.88
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$138.04

Where Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania· 46th of 51

$182

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.