Bone scan (nuclear) Cost by Hospital

Bone scan (nuclear) is a diagnostic imaging scan. Prices are from 2170 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$1,378median cash price · 2170 hospitals, 52 statestypically $483–$3,719 depending on the hospital
≈ 5.3× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$2,426
Cash / self-pay
$1,378
Insurer-negotiated
$589
Medicare pays
$259
$483$3,719
Median cash $1,378  ·  Medicare $259  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $1,378 — about 5.3× the Medicare rate ($259). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($518).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $2,426 list price could save about $1,049 (43%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
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Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
Braxton County Memorial Hospital, Inc Gassaway, WV $213 — — 102 min —
Coffey County Hospital Burlington, KS $213 — ★ 4/5 87 min —
Bassett Healthcare Cooperstown, NY $217 $64 ★ 2/5 199 min —
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton Charlotte, MI $222 $533 ★ 1/5 168 min —
Western Maryland Regional Medical Center Cumberland, MD $223 $372 ★ 4/5 235 min —
Ochsner Medical Center-Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, LA $224 $371 ★ 4/5 197 min —
O'connor Hospital Delhi, NY $228 $346 — 95 min —
Heritage Valley Beaver Beaver, PA $237 $389 ★ 3/5 185 min —
Heritage Valley Sewickley Sewickley, PA $237 $389 ★ 4/5 135 min —
Little Falls Hospital Little Falls, NY $241 $298 ★ 2/5 109 min —
Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital Shelbyville, TN $241 $267 ★ 4/5 125 min —
Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital Tullahoma, TN $241 $266 ★ 3/5 168 min —
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Clinton Saint Johns, MI $244 $448 ★ 4/5 182 min —
The Women's Hospital Newburgh, IN $244 $237 ★ 5/5 130 min —
Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CA $255 $514 ★ 4/5 259 min —
Bayside Community Hospital Anahuac, TX $255 $147 — 106 min —
El Paso Children's Hospital El Paso, TX $257 $501 — — —
Edward W Sparrow Hospital Lansing, MI $263 $402 ★ 3/5 299 min —
Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital Nacogdoches, TX $263 $452 ★ 2/5 174 min —
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Galveston, TX $264 $344 ★ 3/5 190 min —
Acadia General Hospital Crowley, LA $272 $365 ★ 3/5 109 min —
Bayamon Medical Center Bayamon, PR $273 $208 — 279 min —
Parkwest Medical Center Knoxville, TN $281 $385 ★ 3/5 259 min —
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights Harker Heights, TX $288 $1,256 ★ 4/5 174 min —
St Charles Parish Hospital Luling, LA $288 $390 — 114 min —

CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated October 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.

What insurers pay for Bone scan (nuclear)

Median in-network negotiated rate by insurer, across hospitals that publish it (cheapest first). Your actual rate depends on your specific plan and deductible. Cash / self-pay for comparison: $1,378; Medicare pays $259.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Medicaid 315
$164
$35 – $530
Univera 16
$218
$34 – $320
Independent Health 28
$237
$42 – $764
Highmark 132
$287
$46 – $871
Amerigroup 170
$294
$61 – $514
Molina Healthcare 553
$306
$76 – $947
AmeriHealth 231
$327
$58 – $1,150
Geisinger 72
$352
$58 – $1,530
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 136
$364
$109 – $2,056
MVP Health Care 83
$369
$44 – $1,656
Tricare / VA 385
$373
$40 – $1,137
Medicare 540
$382
$42 – $565
Devoted Health 174
$392
$359 – $473
SelectHealth 46
$394
$87 – $1,286
Priority Health 58
$397
$58 – $1,790
Humana 1003
$405
$206 – $1,734
Centene / Ambetter 758
$413
$87 – $1,236
UPMC Health Plan 108
$430
$74 – $1,664
Anthem 556
$431
$87 – $1,544
UnitedHealthcare 1427
$460
$88 – $1,952
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1200
$510
$87 – $1,919
EmblemHealth 79
$523
$73 – $1,059
Bright Health 42
$562
$163 – $3,159
Kaiser Permanente 226
$602
$220 – $2,562
UCare 72
$608
$97 – $2,010
Harvard Pilgrim 51
$616
$89 – $1,706
Oscar Health 164
$628
$101 – $1,344
Aetna 1350
$643
$171 – $2,386
HealthPartners 247
$666
$87 – $1,950
Cigna 1088
$717
$316 – $2,463
Medica 218
$911
$178 – $2,099
Sanford Health Plan 71
$998
$256 – $2,044
Health Net 304
$1,095
$184 – $3,439
Security Health Plan 64
$1,193
$104 – $1,578
Healthcare Highways 43
$1,495
$289 – $2,700
Coventry 148
$1,573
$264 – $3,375
AvMed 67
$1,601
$459 – $3,241
MultiPlan / PHCS network 855
$1,855
$411 – $4,183

Negotiated rates are from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); payer names are normalized to major brands, so a brand may span several plans. Estimates — confirm with your insurer.

Where it’s cheapest

StateMedian cash
Rhode Island$455
New Jersey$529
Tennessee$571
Mississippi$571
Louisiana$626
Arkansas$652

Prices by city

Prices by state

Doctors who perform this

Clinicians who reported the most Medicare volume for this service. This reflects Original Medicare activity only and is a volume signal, not a quality ranking.

ClinicianSpecialtyLocationMedicare services
Sanjit Tewari, M.D.Interventional RadiologyHouston, TX514
Yang Lu, M.D., PH.D.Nuclear MedicineHouston, TX483
Lesley Flynt, MDNuclear MedicineHouston, TX432
Hubert Chuang, MDNuclear MedicineHouston, TX417
Kenneth Gage, M.D., PH.D.Diagnostic RadiologyJacksonville, FL388
Julio Cordero, MDNuclear MedicineEvanston, IL384
Bingfeng Tang, M.D.Nuclear MedicineColumbus, OH341
Patrick Ford, M.D.Nuclear MedicineHouston, TX341
Brigid Castro, M.D.Diagnostic RadiologyFairfax, VA305
Ahmed Abdelrahman, MDDiagnostic RadiologyNew York, NY296
Brandon Howard, PHDNuclear MedicineDurham, NC295
Guofan Xu, M.D.Nuclear MedicineHouston, TX292

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover Bone scan (nuclear)?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Bone scan (nuclear). It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $259. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $52 — unless a Medicare Advantage or supplemental (Medigap) plan covers it.

General guidance from Medicare’s national rates — your actual coverage and share depend on medical necessity, your plan, and where the service is performed. Confirm with Medicare or your plan.

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2170 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $1,378, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $2,426, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $589, a Medicare rate of about $259. Most cash prices fall between $483 and $3,719 — a wide spread, which is exactly why comparing hospitals pays off.

How to save

  • Ask each hospital for its cash / self-pay price — for shoppable services it is often far below the list price.
  • Compare several nearby hospitals; prices for the same service can differ severalfold.
  • Request a written estimate and the billing code (CPT/DRG) before scheduling.
  • Use the Medicare benchmark above to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
  • If you are uninsured, ask about financial assistance or prompt-pay discounts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Bone scan (nuclear) cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2170 US hospitals is $1,378. Most hospitals fall between $483 and $3,719. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover Bone scan (nuclear)?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $259). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for Bone scan (nuclear)?
Medicare pays about $259. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Bone scan (nuclear) prices vary between hospitals?
Hospitals set their own chargemaster and cash prices and negotiate different rates with each insurer, so two hospitals in the same area can charge very differently for the same service.
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Sometimes. If you are uninsured or have a high deductible, the cash/self-pay price can be lower than the insurer-negotiated rate — ask the hospital for both.

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