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Lung Ventilation Scan

Louisiana 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?

$224

Typical negotiated rate. In Louisiana, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $224 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $200 from a physician practice, and about $457 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$200$158 to $214
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$457$355 to $708

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $457 · 10th to 90th $269 to $912Professionalmedian $200 · 10th to 90th $98 to $251
$100$200$500$1Kfacility $457professional $200

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
$199.53
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$213.80
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$707.95
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$223.87
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$30.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$190.55
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$912.01
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$295.12
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$40.74
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$257.04
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$39.81
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$158.49
Christus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$22.39
Typical High
$39.81
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$758.58
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$239.88
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$13.80
Median
$14.79
Typical High
$34.67
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$91.20
Typical High
$208.93
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$1,122.02
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$263.03
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$23.99
Typical High
$33.88
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$218.78
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
$141.25
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$575.44
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$177.83

Where Louisiana 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.

Louisiana· 30th of 51

$224

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.