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Nuclear Scan For Spinal Fluid Leak

Rhode Island 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 October 2026.

How much does Nuclear Scan For Spinal Fluid Leak cost?

$398

Typical negotiated rate. In Rhode Island, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $398 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $331 from a physician practice, and about $2,692 from a hospital or other facility.

Few insurers publish rates for this combination, so treat this figure as a rough guide.

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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$331$295 to $490
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$2,692$1,660 to $2,951

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,692 · 10th to 90th $1,023 to $3,236Professionalmedian $331 · 10th to 90th $219 to $589
$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $2,692professional $331

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
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$331.13
BCBS Rhode Island
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$2,570.40
Typical High
$3,235.94
BCBS Rhode Island
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$660.69
BCBS Rhode Island
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$19.95
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$57.54
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$5,754.40
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$588.84
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,884.03
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$2,884.03
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$501.19

Where Rhode Island sits

The same service costs 4.3 times more in Alaska than in Texas. 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.

Rhode Island· 19th of 51

$398

AK $1,000TX $234

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.