CPT 70544: Magnetic Resonance Angiography of Head, No Contrast

Medicare pays $149 and commercial payers pay $555 on average nationally for this procedure.

CPT code 70544 describes a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the vessels of the head and surrounding areas performed without intravenous contrast; this is a diagnostic radiology procedure typically provided as an imaging study in an outpatient radiology department, hospital imaging center, or ambulatory surgery center to evaluate cerebral and head/neck vasculature noninvasively.

For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Lumbar Microdiscectomy, Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Disc, Lumbar Decompression.

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National Reimbursement Benchmarks

National rates for CPT 70544 show a clear split between Medicare and commercial averages: Medicare's mean is $149.10, while BUCA (as an average commercial benchmark) has a markedly higher mean of $554.70, roughly $405.60 above Medicare. This gap highlights the substantial premium commercial arrangements can command relative to the programmatic Medicare average.

Dispersion varies materially across payers. Calculated P75–P25 ranges: Aetna $220.20, Blue Cross Blue Shield $280.90, BUCA $218.60, Cigna $303.90, UnitedHealth Group $266.50, and Medicare $152.00. Cigna shows the widest interquartile spread at $303.90, indicating greater variability in mid-range commercial rates, while Medicare is the tightest at $152.00, reflecting more constrained locality variation compared with commercial payers.

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CPT 70544: Magnetic Resonance Angiography of Head, No Contrast

Medicare pays $149 and commercial payers pay $555 on average nationally for this procedure.

For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Lumbar Microdiscectomy, Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Disc, Lumbar Decompression.

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for cpt 70544 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing 70544 are released or updated.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A middle-aged patient presents to the emergency department with acute-onset severe headache, focal neurologic deficits, or transient ischemic attack–like symptoms. The emergency physician orders a non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography of the head to evaluate intracranial arterial patency and identify stenosis, occlusion, or vascular malformation without the use of intravenous contrast due to allergy history or renal insufficiency. The clinical workflow includes triage and initial neurologic exam, screening for MRI safety, consent, seizure and implant checks, transport to the MRI suite, performance of 70544 (non-contrast MRA head) by the technologist with neuroradiology protocol sequences, image reconstruction, and interpretation by a diagnostic neuroradiologist. Results are communicated to the ordering clinician for acute management decisions such as thrombolysis candidacy, referral to interventional neuroradiology, or outpatient vascular follow-up. Typical sites of service are hospital outpatient imaging centers, emergency departments, and outpatient radiology clinics. Typical patient scenarios also include surveillance of known cerebrovascular disease, evaluation of suspected intracranial tumor–related vascular involvement, preoperative vascular mapping, and workup of neurosyphilis–related cerebrovascular compromise when contrast is contraindicated.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`70543`	MRI orbit, face, and neck with contrast	Alternative or complementary study when contrast-enhanced evaluation of extracranial vessels or soft tissues is needed
`70551`	MRI brain without contrast	Often performed when parenchymal brain evaluation is required in addition to non-contrast vascular imaging; may be combined or performed sequentially
`70553`	MRI brain without and with contrast	Performed when both non-contrast and contrast-enhanced brain imaging are required; complements `70544` when contrast vascular detail is needed
`70486`	CT orbit, face, and neck with contrast	Cross-sectional alternative for evaluating neck and extracranial vascular pathology or when MRI is contraindicated
`70491`	CT soft tissue neck with contrast	Used when high-resolution evaluation of neck soft tissues or extracranial vasculature is required and CT is preferred over MRI

Related Modifiers

8 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
26	Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…	- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
50	Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…	- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
52	Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…	- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
53	Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…	- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
59	Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…	- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
76	Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…	- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
77	Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…	- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
91	Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…	- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2085R0202X	Diagnostic Radiology Physician	A radiologist who utilizes x-ray, radionuclides, ultrasound and electromagnetic radiation to diagnose and treat disease.
2085N0700X	Neuroradiology Physician	A radiologist who diagnoses and treats diseases utilizing imaging procedures as they relate to the brain, spine and spinal cord, head, neck and organs…
2085P0229X	Pediatric Radiology Physician	A radiologist who is proficient in all forms of diagnostic imaging as it pertains to the treatment of diseases in the newborn, infant, child and adole…
2255R0406X	Blind Rehabilitation Specialist/Technologist	Respiratory, Developmental, Rehabilitative and Restorative Service Providers · Specialist/Technologist
207PP0204X	Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Emergency Medicine) Physician	Pediatric Emergency Medicine is a clinical subspecialty that focuses on the care of the acutely ill or injured child in the setting of an emergency de…
163WD0400X	Diabetes Educator Registered Nurse	Nursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse
225XE0001X	Environmental Modification Occupational Therapist	Occupational therapy practitioners are experts at identifying the cause of difficulties in performance of activities of daily living and instrumental …
207LC0200X	Critical Care Medicine (Anesthesiology) Physician	An anesthesiologist, who specializes in critical care medicine diagnoses, treats and supports patients with multiple organ dysfunction. This specialis…

Related Payer Policy Updates

Specialty: Neurology/Neurosurgery1 / 3

10 rows

Policy	Payer	Effective Date
Lumbar Microdiscectomy	univerahealthcare	2026-10-15
Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Disc	univerahealthcare	2026-10-15
Lumbar Decompression	univerahealthcare	2026-10-15
Nerve Fiber Density Testing (IENFD/ENFD) Coverage Criteria	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Biomarker Testing for Multiple Sclerosis and Related Neurologic Diseases	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Biochemical Markers of Alzheimer Disease and Dementia	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Serum Testing For Evidence of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Evaluation of Cerebrospinal Fluid, Urine and Plasma for Alzheimer Disease	Bluecross Idaho	2026-09-01
Prior Authorization of Spinal Procedures	Blue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island	2026-09-01
Alzheimer's Disease - Amyloid Beta- Directed Antibodies - Kisunla	Cigna	2026-08-15

CPT 70010: CT Posterior Cranial Fossa With Contrast

CPT-70015-BASAL-CISTERN-BRAIN-IMAGING-SUPERVISION-INTERPRETATION

CPT 70015: Basal Cistern Brain Imaging, Supervision and Interpretation

CPT-70030-EYE-XRAY-FOREIGN-BODY-EVALUATION

CPT 70030: Orbital X‑ray for Foreign Body Evaluation

CPT-70100-MANDIBLE-X-RAY-ONE-TO-THREE-VIEWS

CPT 70100: Mandible X‑ray, 1–3 Views

CPT-70110-MANDIBLE-X-RAY-4-OR-MORE-VIEWS

CPT 70110: Mandible X‑ray, Four or More Views

CPT-70120-MASTOID-X-RAY-FEWER-THAN-3-VIEWS

CPT 70120: Mastoid X‑ray, Limited (fewer than 3 views per side)

CPT-70130-MASTOID-X-RAY-SERIES-MASTOIDITIS-VESTIBULAR-EVALUATION

CPT 70130: Mastoid X‑ray, Minimum Three Views Per Side

CPT-70134-INTERNAL-AUDITORY-CANAL-RADIOGRAPHY

CPT 70134: X‑ray of Internal Auditory Canals and Temporal Bone

CPT-70140-FACIAL-BONES-XRAY-FEWER-THAN-THREE-VIEWS

CPT 70140: Facial Bones X‑Ray, Fewer Than Three Views

CPT-70150-FACIAL-BONES-XRAY-THREE-VIEWS

CPT 70150: Facial Bones X‑ray, Three Views

Showing 1–10 of 66

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`70543`	MRI orbit, face, and neck with contrast	Alternative or complementary study when contrast-enhanced evaluation of extracranial vessels or soft tissues is needed
`70551`	MRI brain without contrast	Often performed when parenchymal brain evaluation is required in addition to non-contrast vascular imaging; may be combined or performed sequentially
`70553`	MRI brain without and with contrast	Performed when both non-contrast and contrast-enhanced brain imaging are required; complements `70544` when contrast vascular detail is needed
`70486`	CT orbit, face, and neck with contrast	Cross-sectional alternative for evaluating neck and extracranial vascular pathology or when MRI is contraindicated
`70491`	CT soft tissue neck with contrast	Used when high-resolution evaluation of neck soft tissues or extracranial vasculature is required and CT is preferred over MRI

Related Modifiers

8 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
26	Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…	- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
50	Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…	- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
52	Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…	- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
53	Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…	- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
59	Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…	- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
76	Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…	- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
77	Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…	- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
91	Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…	- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2085R0202X	Diagnostic Radiology Physician	A radiologist who utilizes x-ray, radionuclides, ultrasound and electromagnetic radiation to diagnose and treat disease.
2085N0700X	Neuroradiology Physician	A radiologist who diagnoses and treats diseases utilizing imaging procedures as they relate to the brain, spine and spinal cord, head, neck and organs…
2085P0229X	Pediatric Radiology Physician	A radiologist who is proficient in all forms of diagnostic imaging as it pertains to the treatment of diseases in the newborn, infant, child and adole…
2255R0406X	Blind Rehabilitation Specialist/Technologist	Respiratory, Developmental, Rehabilitative and Restorative Service Providers · Specialist/Technologist
207PP0204X	Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Emergency Medicine) Physician	Pediatric Emergency Medicine is a clinical subspecialty that focuses on the care of the acutely ill or injured child in the setting of an emergency de…
163WD0400X	Diabetes Educator Registered Nurse	Nursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse
225XE0001X	Environmental Modification Occupational Therapist	Occupational therapy practitioners are experts at identifying the cause of difficulties in performance of activities of daily living and instrumental …
207LC0200X	Critical Care Medicine (Anesthesiology) Physician	An anesthesiologist, who specializes in critical care medicine diagnoses, treats and supports patients with multiple organ dysfunction. This specialis…

Related Payer Policy Updates

Specialty: Neurology/Neurosurgery1 / 3

10 rows

Policy	Payer	Effective Date
Lumbar Microdiscectomy	univerahealthcare	2026-10-15
Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Disc	univerahealthcare	2026-10-15
Lumbar Decompression	univerahealthcare	2026-10-15
Nerve Fiber Density Testing (IENFD/ENFD) Coverage Criteria	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Biomarker Testing for Multiple Sclerosis and Related Neurologic Diseases	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Biochemical Markers of Alzheimer Disease and Dementia	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Serum Testing For Evidence of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury	Oscar Health	2026-10-01
Evaluation of Cerebrospinal Fluid, Urine and Plasma for Alzheimer Disease	Bluecross Idaho	2026-09-01
Prior Authorization of Spinal Procedures	Blue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island	2026-09-01
Alzheimer's Disease - Amyloid Beta- Directed Antibodies - Kisunla	Cigna	2026-08-15

CPT 70010: CT Posterior Cranial Fossa With Contrast

CPT-70015-BASAL-CISTERN-BRAIN-IMAGING-SUPERVISION-INTERPRETATION

CPT 70015: Basal Cistern Brain Imaging, Supervision and Interpretation

CPT-70030-EYE-XRAY-FOREIGN-BODY-EVALUATION

CPT 70030: Orbital X‑ray for Foreign Body Evaluation

CPT-70100-MANDIBLE-X-RAY-ONE-TO-THREE-VIEWS

CPT 70100: Mandible X‑ray, 1–3 Views

CPT-70110-MANDIBLE-X-RAY-4-OR-MORE-VIEWS

CPT 70110: Mandible X‑ray, Four or More Views

CPT-70120-MASTOID-X-RAY-FEWER-THAN-3-VIEWS

CPT 70120: Mastoid X‑ray, Limited (fewer than 3 views per side)

CPT-70130-MASTOID-X-RAY-SERIES-MASTOIDITIS-VESTIBULAR-EVALUATION

CPT 70130: Mastoid X‑ray, Minimum Three Views Per Side

CPT-70134-INTERNAL-AUDITORY-CANAL-RADIOGRAPHY

CPT 70134: X‑ray of Internal Auditory Canals and Temporal Bone

CPT-70140-FACIAL-BONES-XRAY-FEWER-THAN-THREE-VIEWS

CPT 70140: Facial Bones X‑Ray, Fewer Than Three Views

CPT-70150-FACIAL-BONES-XRAY-THREE-VIEWS

CPT 70150: Facial Bones X‑ray, Three Views

Showing 1–10 of 66

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

OpenPayer

CPT 70544: Magnetic Resonance Angiography of Head, No Contrast

Sign up for cpt 70544 policy alerts

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

OpenPayer

CPT 70544: Magnetic Resonance Angiography of Head, No Contrast

Sign up for cpt 70544 policy alerts

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Payer Policy Updates

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Payer Policy Updates

Related Codes

References

CPT 70544: Magnetic Resonance Angiography of Head, No Contrast

Sign up for cpt 70544 policy alerts

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

CPT 70544: Magnetic Resonance Angiography of Head, No Contrast

Sign up for cpt 70544 policy alerts

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Payer Policy Updates

Related Codes

What does CPT 70544 represent?

Where is CPT 70544 typically performed?

Which billing modifiers are commonly associated with CPT 70544 and when are they applied?

How do reimbursement rates for CPT 70544 compare between Medicare and commercial payers?

What related imaging CPT codes should be considered alongside 70544?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related Payer Policy Updates

Related Codes

What does CPT 70544 represent?

Where is CPT 70544 typically performed?

Which billing modifiers are commonly associated with CPT 70544 and when are they applied?

How do reimbursement rates for CPT 70544 compare between Medicare and commercial payers?

What related imaging CPT codes should be considered alongside 70544?

References