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CPT 75559: Cardiac MRI with Stress, Non-Contrast

Headline: CPT code 75559: Non-contrast cardiac MRI with stress for evaluation of cardiac structure and function

Lead: CPT code 75559 covers cardiac magnetic resonance imaging performed with stress protocols and without intravenous contrast to evaluate cardiac morphology and function. This imaging modality supports noninvasive assessment of ischemia, wall motion abnormalities, and functional capacity.

What the code represents and why it matters: CPT code 75559 identifies a specialized cardiac MRI service that combines stress testing with high-resolution structural and functional imaging without contrast. Nationally, this code is relevant for hospitals and outpatient imaging centers offering advanced noninvasive cardiac evaluation, influencing utilization patterns, imaging capacity, and clinical pathways for ischemia assessment.

Key payers covered: Analysis commonly includes Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

What readers will learn: The publication outlines clinical context for use of this CMR stress study, typical sites of service, payer coverage patterns, common billing modifiers, and where this code fits among related cardiac imaging options. Readers will find concise benchmarks for utilization and policy updates relevant to imaging authorization, as well as coding considerations tied to non-contrast stress CMR.

Scope: Content is written for a national audience of coding specialists, practice managers, and policy analysts seeking a focused summary of CPT code 75559 and its operational implications.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 75559 describes a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) study performed with stress imaging without the use of intravenous contrast. The procedure assesses cardiac morphology and function while the patient undergoes a stress protocol to evaluate ischemia or functional response.

Service type: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with stress, non-contrast

Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient imaging center or freestanding outpatient MRI center

Data not available in the input.

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CPT 75559: Cardiac MRI with Stress, Non-Contrast

Headline: CPT code 75559: Non-contrast cardiac MRI with stress for evaluation of cardiac structure and function

Key payers covered: Analysis commonly includes Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

Scope: Content is written for a national audience of coding specialists, practice managers, and policy analysts seeking a focused summary of CPT code 75559 and its operational implications.

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for cpt 75559 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing 75559 are released or updated.

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with stress, non-contrast

Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient imaging center or freestanding outpatient MRI center

Data not available in the input.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 62-year-old patient with known ischemic heart disease and exertional angina is referred for a non-contrast cardiac magnetic resonance stress study to evaluate myocardial function and inducible ischemia. The patient arrives at an outpatient radiology center or hospital cardiac imaging suite after fasting per local protocol. Baseline vitals and a focused cardiac history are obtained by nursing; beta-blockers are held as appropriate. An exercise or pharmacologic stress protocol is selected based on the patient’s mobility and cardiopulmonary status. Continuous ECG and blood pressure monitoring are used during stress. The MRI technologist positions the patient in the scanner, programs cine and stress perfusion sequences, and acquires functional and morphologic images during rest and peak stress without intravenous gadolinium contrast. A board-certified cardiologist or radiologist interprets the images, documents wall motion abnormalities, ventricular volumes, and stress-induced changes, and generates a final report for the referring provider. Typical sites of service are outpatient imaging centers or hospital outpatient departments with MRI capability.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	When reporting only the physician interpretation separate from technical imaging resources.
`52`	Reduced services	When the MRI study is partially completed or limited in scope.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	When the study is terminated for patient safety before meaningful images are obtained.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	When a repeat MRI stress study is performed the same day by the same provider (note: `76` is not in provided list; therefore not included).
`78`	Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician following initial procedure (inapplicable to noninvasive MRI)	Use is rare and typically not applicable to this code.
`80`	Assistant surgeon (not applicable)	Generally not applicable to diagnostic MRI; include only if a documented assistant provided specific professional services recognized by payor policies.
`62`	Two surgeons (not applicable)	Rarely relevant; diagnostic imaging does not usually bill with this modifier.
`11`	Default: Office/Outpatient E/M (historical)	Occasionally used by facilities to indicate standard service—most payors do not require `11` for imaging.
`22`	Increased procedural services	When the MRI required significantly greater resources or time than typical (extreme technical or interpretive effort documented).
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	If unusual anesthesia is required for patient tolerance during MRI stress and reported per payor rules.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`2084P0800X`	Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiologist)	Common interpreting physician for cardiac MRI stress studies.
`207R00000X`	Radiology	Radiologists with cardiac MRI expertise may perform and interpret studies.
`2086S0126X`	Nuclear Cardiology (Cardiologist)	Cardiologists with additional imaging specialization often involved in stress imaging protocols.
`208D00000X`	Diagnostic Radiology	Subspecialty radiologists performing cardiac MRI protocols.
`364S00000X`	Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technologist	Technologists who acquire cardiac MRI studies.

Note: The modifier table focuses on the most clinically relevant modifiers from the provided list; some listed modifiers are rarely used for diagnostic non-contrast cardiac MRI but are included with contextual notes.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I20.9`	Angina pectoris, unspecified	Common indication for stress cardiac imaging to evaluate inducible ischemia.
`I25.10`	Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery without angina pectoris	Used when assessing ventricular function and ischemia in patients with chronic coronary disease.
`I50.9`	Heart failure, unspecified	Cardiac MRI stress can assess ventricular function and ischemia contributing to heart failure symptoms.
`I21.9`	Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified	Post-infarct patients may undergo stress imaging to evaluate residual ischemia and functional recovery.
`R07.9`	Chest pain, unspecified	Frequently used symptom diagnosis prompting stress cardiac imaging to rule out ischemia.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`75557`	Magnetic resonance imaging, heart, including stress imaging when performed; with contrast material(s)	Alternative cardiac MRI stress study performed with intravenous contrast for perfusion or viability assessment when contrast is indicated.
`93015`	Cardiovascular stress tests, cardiovascular stress test using exercise and/or pharmacologic stress with interpretation and report	Performed prior to or in conjunction with imaging to document exercise capacity and hemodynamic response; may guide selection of MRI stress modality.
`71555`	Magnetic resonance angiography, chest (non-cardiac specific)	Performed when vascular anatomy, such as great vessels, is assessed in addition to cardiac morphology; sometimes performed in the same imaging encounter.
`93000`	Electrocardiogram, routine ECG with interpretation and report	Baseline and monitoring ECGs obtained during stress MRI to document rhythm and ischemic changes.
`72195`	Magnetic resonance imaging, thoracic spine or chest (if clinically indicated)	Occasionally ordered for differential diagnoses when chest pain etiology is unclear; may be part of same imaging visit.

Note: These related CPT codes are commonly performed alongside or complementary to non-contrast cardiac MRI stress studies in clinical workflows.

CPT 75557: Cardiac MRI for Structure and Function, No Contrast

CPT-75561-CARDIAC-MRI-WITH-AND-WITHOUT-CONTRAST

CPT 75561: Cardiac MRI Without and With Contrast

CPT-75563-CARDIAC-MRI-STRESS-REST-WITH-AND-WITHOUT-CONTRAST

CPT 75563: Cardiac MRI Stress and Rest with and without Contrast

CPT-75565-CARDIAC-MRI-VELOCITY-FLOW-MAPPING

CPT 75565: Cardiac MRI with Velocity Flow Mapping

CPT-75571-CORONARY-CALCIUM-SCORING-CT-NON-CONTRAST

CPT 75571: Non-Contrast CT Coronary Calcium Scoring

CPT-75572-CARDIAC-CT-3D-POST-PROCESSING-FUNCTIONAL-ASSESSMENT

CPT 75572: Cardiac CT with 3D Post-Processing and Functional Assessment

CPT-75573-CARDIAC-CT-CONGENITAL-HEART-EVALUATION

CPT 75573: Cardiac CT for Congenital Heart Evaluation

CPT-75574-CARDIAC-CT-WITH-CONTRAST-CORONARY-EVALUATION

CPT 75574: Cardiac CT With Contrast for Coronary Evaluation

CPT-75577-CORONARY-CTA-PLAQUE-QUANTIFICATION-POST-PROCESSING

CPT 75577: Coronary CTA Plaque Quantification and Post-Processing

CPT-75580-FFR-CT-FROM-CCTA-AUGMENTATION-SOFTWARE-REPORT

CPT 75580: FFR-CT from Coronary CT Angiography via Augmentative Software

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

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

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.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	When reporting only the physician interpretation separate from technical imaging resources.
`52`	Reduced services	When the MRI study is partially completed or limited in scope.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	When the study is terminated for patient safety before meaningful images are obtained.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	When a repeat MRI stress study is performed the same day by the same provider (note: `76` is not in provided list; therefore not included).
`78`	Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician following initial procedure (inapplicable to noninvasive MRI)	Use is rare and typically not applicable to this code.
`80`	Assistant surgeon (not applicable)	Generally not applicable to diagnostic MRI; include only if a documented assistant provided specific professional services recognized by payor policies.
`62`	Two surgeons (not applicable)	Rarely relevant; diagnostic imaging does not usually bill with this modifier.
`11`	Default: Office/Outpatient E/M (historical)	Occasionally used by facilities to indicate standard service—most payors do not require `11` for imaging.
`22`	Increased procedural services	When the MRI required significantly greater resources or time than typical (extreme technical or interpretive effort documented).
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	If unusual anesthesia is required for patient tolerance during MRI stress and reported per payor rules.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`2084P0800X`	Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiologist)	Common interpreting physician for cardiac MRI stress studies.
`207R00000X`	Radiology	Radiologists with cardiac MRI expertise may perform and interpret studies.
`2086S0126X`	Nuclear Cardiology (Cardiologist)	Cardiologists with additional imaging specialization often involved in stress imaging protocols.
`208D00000X`	Diagnostic Radiology	Subspecialty radiologists performing cardiac MRI protocols.
`364S00000X`	Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technologist	Technologists who acquire cardiac MRI studies.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I20.9`	Angina pectoris, unspecified	Common indication for stress cardiac imaging to evaluate inducible ischemia.
`I25.10`	Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery without angina pectoris	Used when assessing ventricular function and ischemia in patients with chronic coronary disease.
`I50.9`	Heart failure, unspecified	Cardiac MRI stress can assess ventricular function and ischemia contributing to heart failure symptoms.
`I21.9`	Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified	Post-infarct patients may undergo stress imaging to evaluate residual ischemia and functional recovery.
`R07.9`	Chest pain, unspecified	Frequently used symptom diagnosis prompting stress cardiac imaging to rule out ischemia.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`75557`	Magnetic resonance imaging, heart, including stress imaging when performed; with contrast material(s)	Alternative cardiac MRI stress study performed with intravenous contrast for perfusion or viability assessment when contrast is indicated.
`93015`	Cardiovascular stress tests, cardiovascular stress test using exercise and/or pharmacologic stress with interpretation and report	Performed prior to or in conjunction with imaging to document exercise capacity and hemodynamic response; may guide selection of MRI stress modality.
`71555`	Magnetic resonance angiography, chest (non-cardiac specific)	Performed when vascular anatomy, such as great vessels, is assessed in addition to cardiac morphology; sometimes performed in the same imaging encounter.
`93000`	Electrocardiogram, routine ECG with interpretation and report	Baseline and monitoring ECGs obtained during stress MRI to document rhythm and ischemic changes.
`72195`	Magnetic resonance imaging, thoracic spine or chest (if clinically indicated)	Occasionally ordered for differential diagnoses when chest pain etiology is unclear; may be part of same imaging visit.

Note: These related CPT codes are commonly performed alongside or complementary to non-contrast cardiac MRI stress studies in clinical workflows.

CPT 75557: Cardiac MRI for Structure and Function, No Contrast

CPT-75561-CARDIAC-MRI-WITH-AND-WITHOUT-CONTRAST

CPT 75561: Cardiac MRI Without and With Contrast

CPT-75563-CARDIAC-MRI-STRESS-REST-WITH-AND-WITHOUT-CONTRAST

CPT 75563: Cardiac MRI Stress and Rest with and without Contrast

CPT-75565-CARDIAC-MRI-VELOCITY-FLOW-MAPPING

CPT 75565: Cardiac MRI with Velocity Flow Mapping

CPT-75571-CORONARY-CALCIUM-SCORING-CT-NON-CONTRAST

CPT 75571: Non-Contrast CT Coronary Calcium Scoring

CPT-75572-CARDIAC-CT-3D-POST-PROCESSING-FUNCTIONAL-ASSESSMENT

CPT 75572: Cardiac CT with 3D Post-Processing and Functional Assessment

CPT-75573-CARDIAC-CT-CONGENITAL-HEART-EVALUATION

CPT 75573: Cardiac CT for Congenital Heart Evaluation

CPT-75574-CARDIAC-CT-WITH-CONTRAST-CORONARY-EVALUATION

CPT 75574: Cardiac CT With Contrast for Coronary Evaluation

CPT-75577-CORONARY-CTA-PLAQUE-QUANTIFICATION-POST-PROCESSING

CPT 75577: Coronary CTA Plaque Quantification and Post-Processing

CPT-75580-FFR-CT-FROM-CCTA-AUGMENTATION-SOFTWARE-REPORT

CPT 75580: FFR-CT from Coronary CT Angiography via Augmentative Software

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

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 75559: Cardiac MRI with Stress, Non-Contrast

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 75559: Cardiac MRI with Stress, Non-Contrast

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References