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Lung Ventilation Scan

California rates for HCPCS 78579

A nuclear medicine study of how air moves into and through the lungs. You breathe in a radioactive gas or a fine mist through a mask or mouthpiece while a camera records where it reaches, revealing parts of the lungs that are not being aired properly. It is often paired with a blood-flow study when a clot in the lungs is suspected.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Lung Ventilation Scan cost?

$257

Typical negotiated rate. In California, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $257 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $234 from a physician practice, and about $1,047 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 12 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$234$186 to $646
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,047$468 to $1,738

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,047 · 10th to 90th $178 to $2,239Professionalmedian $234 · 10th to 90th $170 to $1,148
$50$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,047professional $234

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
$194.98
Typical High
$2,238.72
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$912.01
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$194.98
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$21.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$173.78
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$891.25
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$851.14
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$102.33
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$707.95
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$2,089.30
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$562.34
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$16.98
Median
$24.55
Typical High
$67.61
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$489.78
Central California Alliance for Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$269.15
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$2,884.03
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$562.34
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.95
Median
$27.54
Typical High
$64.57
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$489.78
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$275.42
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$30.90
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$239.88
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$575.44
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$70.79
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$562.34
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,148.15
Typical High
$1,445.44
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$186.21
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$1,000.00
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$1,258.93
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$162.18
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$2,454.71
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$562.34
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.95
Median
$27.54
Typical High
$64.57
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$489.78
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$645.65
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$77.62
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$562.34
Typical High
$562.34
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$660.69
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$1,000.00
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$758.58
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.50
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$91.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$707.95
2 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
Facility
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$741.31
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$154.88

Where California sits

The same service costs 4.5 times more in Alaska than in Florida. 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.

California· 19th of 51

$257

AK $676FL $151

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.