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Lung Ventilation Scan

Virginia 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?

$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 $219 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$170 to $240
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$219$117 to $479

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $219 · 10th to 90th $28 to $851Professionalmedian $195 · 10th to 90th $138 to $309
$20$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $219professional $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
$169.82
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$169.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$169.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$21.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$151.36
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$537.03
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$870.96
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$245.47
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$20.89
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$30.90
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$223.87
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$229.09
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$23.44
Typical High
$28.18
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$912.01
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$363.08
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$45.71
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$316.23
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$239.88
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$338.84
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$162.18
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$162.18
Sentara
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$616.60
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$28.84
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$426.58
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$52.48
Sentara
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$338.84
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$831.76
Typical High
$1,862.09
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$389.05
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$20.42
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$48.98
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$338.84
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
$134.90
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$138.04

Where Virginia 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.

Virginia· 40th of 51

$195

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.