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Nuclear Scan For Spinal Fluid Leak

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 78650

A small amount of radioactive tracer is placed into the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord, and a special camera then follows where it travels. If fluid is escaping, the tracer shows up outside its normal space, which pinpoints the leak. It is used when clear fluid drains from the nose or ear, or when a leak is suspected after an injury or an operation.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Nuclear Scan For Spinal Fluid Leak cost?

$229

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $229 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $229 from a physician practice, and about $398 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

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.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$229$229 to $380
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$398$229 to $617

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $398 · 10th to 90th $229 to $832Professionalmedian $229 · 10th to 90th $224 to $646
$200.0$500.0$1.0K$2.0Kfacility $398professional $229

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$645.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$645.65
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$1,479.11
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$812.83
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$346.74
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$346.74
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$660.69
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$263.03
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$2,884.03
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$707.95
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4,073.80
Median
$4,073.80
Typical High
$4,073.80
Wellcare
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$2,041.74

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 4.5 times more in Wyoming than in Florida. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

North Carolina $229 · 50th of 51
WY $955FL $214

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.