CPT code 78708 denotes a kidney scan, a nuclear medicine procedure used to assess renal anatomy and physiology through cortical imaging and functional tracer studies. This test is clinically important for evaluating kidney shape, cortical defects, perfusion, and renal drainage dynamics—information that informs diagnosis and management of obstructive uropathy, renal cortical scarring, and perfusion abnormalities. Nationally, renal nuclear imaging is routinely used across hospital outpatient departments and dedicated imaging centers, and it is subject to payer coverage criteria and prior authorization in many plans.

Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise account of what CPT code 78708 represents, how it is typically performed and where it is provided, and which major payers commonly cover the service. The publication also summarizes benchmarking points, relevant policy considerations affecting coverage and utilization, and the clinical context clinicians and billing staff should understand when coding and submitting claims for renal nuclear imaging.

Data not available in the input includes specific payer-level reimbursement rates, associated taxonomies, and ICD-10 diagnosis code mappings. Those items are noted as unavailable and are not included in this summary.