HCPCS A9573: Injection, gadopiclenol, 1 ml

HCPCS Level II code A9573 denotes the supply unit for gadopiclenol, an injectable MRI contrast agent measured per 1 ml. As a supply code for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, A9573 matters nationally for facility billing, inventory management, and cost tracking in radiology departments and outpatient imaging centers. It affects reimbursement for MRI procedures that require gadopiclenol and factors into aggregate imaging costs for payers and facilities.

Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of how A9573 is used in billing lines for MRI contrast, benchmarks for utilization and per-unit pricing (where available), and the clinical context for gadopiclenol as an MRI gadolinium-based contrast agent. The publication also highlights common modifiers and billing considerations associated with supply-level HCPCS codes and outlines where data was and was not available.

This summary is intended for national audiences including health plan analysts, hospital billing managers, radiology administrators, and policy stakeholders seeking a clear understanding of A9573’s role in diagnostic imaging billing and cost reporting.

Billing Code Overview

HCPCS Level II code A9573 represents an injectable contrast agent: injection, gadopiclenol, 1 ml. This supply-level code captures the billed unit for gadopiclenol when administered for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies.

Service type: Diagnostic imaging contrast agent for MRI
Typical site of service: Outpatient imaging centers, hospital outpatient departments, and inpatient radiology suites where MRI with contrast is performed

Data not available in the input.

Clinical Context

A typical patient is an adult referred for a contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study to evaluate suspected intracranial neoplasm, inflammatory disease, or vascular abnormality. The radiology team schedules the exam in an outpatient imaging center or hospital radiology department. On arrival, a registered nurse or radiology technologist reviews allergies, renal function (eGFR), and informed consent for intravenous contrast. The patient receives an intravenous bolus of A9573 (injection, gadopiclenol, 1 ml) dosed per weight and institutional protocol immediately prior to the MRI acquisition. The radiologist supervises contrast administration, interprets the enhanced sequences, and documents contrast agent, dose, lot number, and any immediate adverse reactions. Typical sites of service include outpatient imaging centers, hospital outpatient departments, and inpatient radiology suites.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing only the radiologist's interpretation separate from technical imaging services.
`52`	Reduced services

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`2084P0208X`	Diagnostic Radiology	Radiologists who interpret MRI and oversee contrast use.
`207RC0000X`	Nuclear Medicine	Physicians involved in advanced imaging and contrast protocols in some centers.
`2085R0201X`	Neuroradiology	Subspecialists frequently using high-relaxivity gadolinium agents for neuroimaging.
`364S00000X`	Emergency Medicine	May order and supervise contrast-enhanced MRI in acute settings.
`207L00000X`	Internal Medicine	Hospitalists or attending physicians who may authorize imaging for inpatients.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`C71.9`	Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified	Contrast-enhanced MRI with `A9573` helps characterize brain masses and assess blood-brain barrier disruption.
`G35`	Multiple sclerosis	Gadolinium agents highlight active demyelinating lesions on brain and spinal MRI.
`I67.4`	Hypertensive encephalopathy	Contrast MRI may be used to evaluate suspected vascular or inflammatory causes when indicated.
`K76.8`	Other specified diseases of liver	Contrast-enhanced liver MRI assists in lesion characterization and staging for focal liver lesions.
`M81.0`	Age-related osteoporosis without current pathological fracture	Included when MR arthrography or contrast-enhanced spine imaging is used to evaluate complications (less common).
`N18.3`	Chronic kidney disease, stage 3 (moderate)	Renal function code to document risk assessment prior to gadolinium administration and dosing considerations.
`R41.3`	Other amnesia	Contrast-enhanced brain MRI may be performed in patients with new cognitive changes to evaluate structural causes.
`S06.2X9A`	Diffuse traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness of unspecified duration, initial encounter	Contrast MRI can be part of subacute evaluation of traumatic brain injuries for contusion or vascular injury.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`70553`	Magnetic resonance imaging, brain (including brain stem); without and with contrast material	Commonly performed with `A9573` when pre- and post-contrast sequences are acquired for lesion characterization.
`72156`	Magnetic resonance imaging, pelvis; without and with contrast material	Used when gadopiclenol is administered for pelvic soft-tissue or oncologic MRI studies.
`73723`	Magnetic resonance imaging, lower extremity (e.g., femur, knee, tibia/fibula); without and with contrast material	Performed with gadopiclenol for evaluation of infection, tumor, or vascular malformation in the extremity.
`74183`	Magnetic resonance imaging, abdomen; without and with contrast material	Used when contrast-enhanced abdominal MRI is indicated for liver lesion characterization or other pathology.
`77021`	Magnetic resonance guidance for needle placement (e.g., biopsy, aspiration), imaging supervision and interpretation	May be performed before or after contrast-enhanced imaging when image-guided biopsy is required; gadopiclenol aids lesion conspicuity.

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Summary & Overview