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First-Pass Nuclear Scan Of Heart Pumping Function

Virginia 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?

$195

Typical negotiated rate. In Virginia, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $195 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $195 from a physician practice, and about $240 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 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$195$158 to $245
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$240$138 to $525

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $240 · 10th to 90th $56 to $871Professionalmedian $195 · 10th to 90th $135 to $331
$50$200$1K$5Kfacility $240professional $195

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
$158.49
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$158.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$331.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$43.65
Typical High
$69.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$245.47
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$851.14
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$239.88
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$41.69
Median
$50.12
Typical High
$64.57
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$173.78
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$281.84
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$42.66
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$53.70
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$169.82
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$1,096.48
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$398.11
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$97.72
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$295.12
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$234.42
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$398.11
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$323.59
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$154.88
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$51.29
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$794.33
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$478.63
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$114.82
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$309.03
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,023.29
Median
$1,122.02
Typical High
$2,511.89
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$407.38
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$100.00
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$309.03
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
$75.86
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$85.11
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$30.90
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$33.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$128.82

Where Virginia 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.

Virginia· 44th of 51

$195

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.