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Lung Ventilation Scan

Colorado 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?

$288

Typical negotiated rate. In Colorado, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $288 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $275 from a physician practice, and about $427 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$275$219 to $363
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$427$257 to $550

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $427 · 10th to 90th $162 to $871Professionalmedian $275 · 10th to 90th $174 to $457
$200$500$1Kfacility $427professional $275

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
$120.23
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$177.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$190.55
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$22.91
Typical High
$23.99
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$169.82
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$870.96
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$512.86
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$63.10
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$446.68
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$1,621.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$416.87
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$30.90
Typical High
$53.70
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$363.08
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$257.04
Denver HMP
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$323.59
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$371.54
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$47.86
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$323.59
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$371.54
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$239.88
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$1,819.70
Typical High
$2,089.30
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$446.68
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$57.54
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$380.19
1 more rate 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
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$173.78

Where Colorado 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.

Colorado· 12th of 51

$288

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.