Bone Scan Cost

Bones form the framework of the skeletal system. They help in the movement of the body and the body structure rests on the strength of the bones. Besides being a support system for the body, bones have various other functions in the body. The red blood cells are formed in the bone marrow and any problems related to blood disorders can be diagnosed with the help of a bone scan. Bones play a crucial part in determining the health of an individual and so the metabolism processes in the bones, help the doctors to find out problems in any other parts of the body. The bone mineral density (BMD), the distribution of bone salt and the mineral content of bones are vital in concluding complications of many diseases. Bone cancer, osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, metastatic disease (cancers spread to bones) and hematological diseases (related to blood diseases) can be diagnosed with the help of bone scans.

Cost of Bone Scan
Mostly, the costs are covered under various insurance policies or the hospitals negotiate on the reason there is a general confusion among the patients about the bone scan price. In the United States, the cost varies depending on the location of the health clinic. For instance, a clinic in Florida may charge more than any other clinic in a less expensive city.

For patients who don't have any health insurance or medical claims, the cost will range between USD 150 to USD 200. For some patients who have medical claims with insurance companies for the risk of osteoporosis or other bone diseases, the cost reduces significantly, however, these policies are specifically meant for certain age group, so it is advisable to check ahead of time, so that the policies don't lapse.

The patients covered under the insurance policies will have to pay nearly 10% to 40% less than the actual cost depending on the type of health insurance. The cost is not very high, however, after the tests you may have to take additional vitamin or mineral supplements as advised by the doctors. This may add to some additional costs to your budget after the bone scan tests.

Bone Scan Procedure
The bone scan procedure consists of a nuclear scanning test that helps in revealing the health of the bones. Unlike X-rays, this test can find the problems of the bones many months earlier and so it is effective in lessening the effect of any potential risk to the bones. The scanned pictures are analyzed by an expert radiologist. This test requires you to replacing your clothes with hospital gown, taking off all jewelry or other metallic things on the body depending on the area of the body where the bone scanning is to be done. Hospitals generally provide you with some soft cloth or paper to cover yourself.

A radioactive tracer is injected into one of your arms, after the technologist has cleaned your arm with some antiseptic. The radioactive tracer takes 2 to 5 hours to be absorbed by the parts of the bones. Meanwhile, you will be asked to drink 6-7 glasses of water so that any unabsorbed radioactive material can be discharged through the urine. After the 2 to 5 hours time limit, your doctor will again ask you to urinate so that the radioactive particles in the urine don't interfere with radioactive particles in other parts of the bones and hence the block the view of pelvic bones during scanning process.

Further, you will be made to lie on your back and a large scanning camera will be positioned above you, at a close distance. The camera will move slowly and it will detect the radiations emitted by the tracers absorbed by your bones. The corresponding pictures will be generated on the monitor. This camera doesn't subject you to any radiation so you needn't worry about radiations on the skin. The 'dark spots' on the pictures will indicate the problems of blood supply to the specific parts of the bones. The areas that have absorbed more tracers will appear as 'hot spots' and can indicate possibility of bone problems like arthritis etc.

Before you move on to take the bone scan test, you can visit the hospital and discuss the cost with the doctor and hospital management. They will provide you with all the information regarding the charges, rules and regulations. More than the cost, you should be concerned about the health of your bones. Since bone scan tests can detect the complications of bones many months earlier, it is advisable to go for them.