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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesMagnetic Resonance Imaging GuidanceCPT cpt-77021-mr-guided-needle-placement-imaging-supervision-interpretation
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    CPT 77021: MRI Guidance Imaging Supervision and Interpretation

    Medicare pays $297 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 77021 describes imaging supervision and interpretation provided when a separately reportable needle placement procedure such as a biopsy or aspiration is performed under magnetic resonance guidance; service type: imaging supervision and interpretation for MR-guided procedures; typical site of service: hospital outpatient department or imaging center where MR-guided needle procedures are performed.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Clinical Review Criteria Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM), Remote Electrical Neuromodulation for Migraines (i.e., Nerivio®), Lumbar Microdiscectomy.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old patient with a solitary enhancing liver lesion identified on prior MRI is scheduled for an MRI-guided core needle biopsy. The interventional radiology team coordinates care: pre-procedure consent and coagulation review are completed in the pre-op area; the patient is transported to the MRI suite; an attending interventional radiologist or credentialed radiologist supervises needle placement in real time under MRI guidance while a technologist operates the scanner. The radiologist performs imaging supervision and interpretation only and documents the guidance images, needle trajectory, number of passes, and final interpretation of sampled location. The separate, reportable biopsy/aspiration tissue procedure is documented and reported by the operator with its own CPT code; 77021 is reported by the supervising/interpreting physician to represent MRI imaging supervision and interpretation for the needle placement component of the procedure. Typical site of service is the hospital-based outpatient or inpatient MRI/interventional radiology suite. Typical service type is image guidance/interpretation for an interventional procedure.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    77012CT guidance for needle placement (e.g., biopsy, aspiration, injection)Alternative cross-sectional image guidance modality; used when CT guidance is selected instead of MRI
    77021Magnetic resonance guidance for needle placement, imaging supervision and interpretation onlyRepresents the imaging supervision and interpretation component for MRI-guided needle procedures (primary code in this context)
    77022CT guidance for needle placement, imaging supervision and interpretation onlyParallel code for CT when billing only imaging supervision/interpretation; analogous relationship to 77021 for CT
    19081Image-guided (ultrasound or stereotactic) core needle biopsy of breast; with stereotactic guidanceExample of a separately reportable biopsy procedure that would be reported in addition to the imaging guidance code when performed under image guidance
    20206Biopsy, bone (needle)Example of a tissue-sampling procedure that would be reported separately from the imaging guidance code when performed under MRI guidance
    77031Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement (e.g., biopsy, aspiration, injection)Another image guidance option; may be used in workflows where fluoroscopy rather than MRI is the guidance modality

    Related Modifiers

    9 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 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…
    59Modifier 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…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    73Modifier 73 indicates a facility-level outpatient hospital or ASC procedure that was discontinued after the patient was prepared and taken to the procedure/operating room but before any anesthesia…- When to use: Apply CPT modifier 73 on the FACILITY (outpatient hospital or ASC) claim when the patient has been fully prepared and physically taken into the procedure/operating room but the…
    74Modifier ‑74 indicates an outpatient hospital or ASC procedure that was discontinued after anesthesia was administered and after the procedure had begun. Use this modifier when anesthesia (local,…- Use modifier -74 when a procedure in an outpatient hospital or ASC setting is terminated after anesthesia has been administered and after the procedure has commenced (for example, after incision,…
    76Modifier -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…
    77Modifier 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…
    52Modifier ‑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…
    53Modifier 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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    2080P0208X
    2085R0205X
    363L00000X
    207L00000X
    225XP0200X
    207LP4000X
    246QH0401X
    207ZP0102X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Neurology/Neurosurgery1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Clinical Review Criteria Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM)Kaiser Permanente2027-01-01
    Remote Electrical Neuromodulation for Migraines (i.e., Nerivio®)bcbsvermont2026-11-01
    Lumbar Microdiscectomyuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Discuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Decompressionuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Responsive Neurostimulation for Focal EpilepsyPremera Bluecross2026-10-14
    Intraoperative MonitoringProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Intraoperative MonitoringProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    High-Intensity Focused UltrasoundMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Vagal Nerve StimulationAmbetter Nevada2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-77022-MR-GUIDANCE-MONITORING-PARENCHYMAL-ABLATION

    CPT 77022: MR Imaging Guidance and Monitoring for Parenchymal Ablation

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 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. 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. 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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