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First-Pass Nuclear Scan Of Heart Pumping Function

South Carolina 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?

$229

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $229 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $214 from a physician practice, and about $1,072 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$214$151 to $269
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,072$708 to $1,660

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,072 · 10th to 90th $447 to $1,995Professionalmedian $214 · 10th to 90th $66 to $309
$50$100$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $1,072professional $214

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
$134.90
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$134.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$147.91
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$41.69
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$97.72
Typical High
$107.15
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$1,995.26
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$389.05
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$389.05
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$338.84
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$43.65
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$83.18
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$199.53
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$707.95
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$2,818.38
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$407.38
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$47.86
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$117.49
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$295.12
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$446.68
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$389.05
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$302.00
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,290.87
Median
$2,754.23
Typical High
$3,630.78
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$389.05
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$44.67
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$97.72
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$295.12
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
$67.61
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$74.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$29.51
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$117.49

Where South Carolina 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.

South Carolina· 32nd of 51

$229

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.