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Lung Ventilation Scan

North Carolina 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?

$245

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $245 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $245 from a physician practice, and about $562 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$245$195 to $339
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$562$155 to $891

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $562 · 10th to 90th $155 to $891Professionalmedian $245 · 10th to 90th $155 to $490
$200$500$1Kfacility $562professional $245

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$154.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$154.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$20.42
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$141.25
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$37.15
Median
$57.54
Typical High
$66.07
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$446.68
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$891.25
Typical High
$1,000.00
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$524.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$36.31
Typical High
$66.07
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$457.09
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$186.21
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$245.47
Typical High
$389.05
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$28.84
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$54.95
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$407.38
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$194.98
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$501.19
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.99
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$66.07
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$426.58
6 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
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$123.03
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$251.19
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$48.98
Median
$48.98
Typical High
$100.00
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
81 · Minimal assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$70.79
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
82 · Assistant surgeon, no resident
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$70.79
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$70.79

Where North Carolina 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.

North Carolina· 22nd of 51

$245

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.