C8900 Magnetic Resonance Angiography — HCPCS Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

HCPCS C8900: Magnetic Resonance Angiography with Contrast, Abdomen

HCPCS Level II code C8900 denotes magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the abdomen performed with intravenous contrast. This imaging code represents an important diagnostic modality for evaluating abdominal arterial anatomy, aneurysms, stenoses, and vascular malformations without ionizing radiation. Nationally, MRA services are a key component of vascular diagnostic pathways and influence downstream clinical management and resource utilization.

Key payers included in this overview are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of what the code represents, typical sites of service, and the clinical context for abdominal MRA with contrast. The publication summarizes coverage considerations and common billing modifiers (input-provided list), presents benchmark comparisons across major payers, and outlines policy updates or coding considerations relevant to imaging departments and billing teams.

The content is intended to help coding professionals, clinical administrators, and revenue management teams understand billing classification, payer coverage landscape, and where to look for additional payer-specific guidance. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable in the full publication.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicareC8900HCPCS Level IImagnetic resonance angiographyabdominal imagingdiagnostic imagingcontrast MRAradiology codingmedical billing

Billing Code Overview

HCPCS Level II code C8900 describes magnetic resonance angiography with contrast of the abdomen. The service is an imaging procedure that uses magnetic resonance technology with an intravenous contrast agent to visualize abdominal arteries and vascular structures.

Service type: Diagnostic imaging — magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with contrast

Typical site of service: Outpatient imaging centers or hospital outpatient departments

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 58-year-old patient with known peripheral arterial disease and new onset, persistent abdominal pain and unexplained weight loss is referred for noninvasive vascular imaging. The ordering clinician requests an abdominal magnetic resonance angiography with contrast to evaluate the abdominal aorta and visceral arterial branches for stenosis, aneurysm, dissection, or tumor vascularity. The typical workflow includes: pre-procedure review of renal function (serum creatinine and eGFR), assessment of contrast allergy history, informed consent, establishment of IV access for gadolinium-based contrast injection, positioning in the MRI scanner, acquisition of contrast-enhanced MRA sequences of the abdomen, immediate image review by the MRI technologist, and final interpretation and report by a board-certified radiologist. Procedure documentation includes the indication, contrast agent name and dose, IV site, patient tolerance, any immediate complications, and the radiologist’s impressions with measurements of detected vascular lesions.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing only the radiologist’s interpretation separate from technical imaging.
`TC`	Technical component

HCPCS C9815: Linear Peristaltic Ambulatory Infusion Pump for Post-Surgical Pain

HCPCS-C9168-MIRIKIZUMAB-INJECTION-1MG

HCPCS Level II C9168: Injection, mirikizumab-mrkz, 1 mg

HCPCS-C9043-LEVOLEUCOVORIN-INJECTION-1MG

HCPCS C9043: Levoleucovorin Injection, 1 mg

HCPCS-C1787-PATIENT-PROGRAMMER-NEUROSTIMULATOR

HCPCS Level II C1787: Patient Programmer, Neurostimulator

HCPCS-C1824-CARDIAC-CONTRACTILITY-MODULATION-GENERATOR-IMPLANTABLE

HCPCS C1824: Cardiac Contractility Modulation Generator, Implantable

HCPCS-C9441-FERRIC-CARBOXYMALTOSE-INJECTION-1MG

HCPCS C9441: Injection, Ferric Carboxymaltose, 1 mg

HCPCS-C7566-INTERPHALANGEAL-JOINT-ARTHRODESIS-AUTOGRAFT

HCPCS Level II C7566: Interphalangeal Joint Arthrodesis with Autograft

HCPCS-C8957-PROLONGED-INFUSION-INITIATION-PORTABLE-IMPLANTABLE-PUMP

HCPCS C8957: Initiation of Prolonged IV Infusion Using Portable or Implantable Pump

HCPCS-C1823-IMPLANTABLE-NON-RECHARGEABLE-NEUROSTIMULATOR-TRANSVENOUS

HCPCS C1823: Implantable Non-Rechargeable Neurostimulator with Transvenous Leads

HCPCS-C9071-VILTOLARSEN-INJECTION-10MG

HCPCS C9071: Injection, Viltolarsen 10 mg

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Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`2085R0201X`	Diagnostic Radiology	Most common interpreting specialty for abdominal MRA studies.
`2080P0208X`	Vascular Surgery	Often orders and reviews vascular imaging for procedural planning.
`208D00000X`	Cardiology (Vascular Imaging)	Interprets vascular studies in some centers for aorto-iliac and visceral disease.
`207R00000X`	Radiologist — Body Imaging	Subspecialty radiologists who frequently perform and interpret abdominal MRA.
`207K00000X`	Interventional Radiology	Involved when findings prompt image-guided interventions; may perform and interpret the study.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I71.3`	Abdominal aortic aneurysm, without rupture	Primary indication for abdominal MRA to evaluate extent, size, and branch involvement.
`I70.2`	Atherosclerosis of native arteries of the extremities	Associated peripheral vascular disease prompting evaluation of aortoiliac inflow with abdominal MRA.
`K76.89`	Other specified diseases of liver	Vascular imaging of liver vasculature may be indicated for suspected vascular lesions or preprocedural planning.
`I77.1`	Stricture of artery	Evaluation for arterial stenosis in mesenteric or renal arteries via contrast-enhanced MRA.
`K55.0`	Acute vascular disorders of intestine	Suspected mesenteric ischemia may prompt contrast-enhanced abdominal MRA for arterial occlusion or stenosis.
`C78.7`	Secondary malignant neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile duct	Assessment of tumor vascularity and arterial supply for planning therapy.
`N28.9`	Disorder of kidney and ureter, unspecified	When renal artery stenosis or renal vascular disease is suspected, abdominal MRA can evaluate renal arteries.
`I72.3`	Aneurysm of artery of lower extremity	Imaging of aortoiliac and iliac arterial segments may be required when peripheral aneurysmal disease is present.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`72198`	Magnetic resonance angiography, abdomen, without contrast material, followed by contrast material(s) and further sequences	Alternative or complementary MRA code when both non-contrast and contrast-enhanced sequences are performed; may be used in comprehensive MRA protocols.
`74185`	Magnetic resonance angiography, abdomen, including pelvis when performed; without contrast material, followed by contrast material(s) and further sequences	Used for expanded studies that include pelvis and abdomen in MRA protocols when imaging extends beyond the abdomen.
`74183`	Magnetic resonance imaging, abdomen, without contrast material	May be performed prior to contrast-enhanced MRA for anatomic correlation or when non-contrast sequences are needed.
`70450`	CT head or non-related; (example unrelated)	Data not applicable to abdominal MRA workflow; included only when cross-sectional CT imaging is performed as adjunct in the same diagnostic episode.
`93799`	Unlisted cardiovascular procedure	Used rarely for novel or unlisted vascular imaging services not captured by standard codes; rarely applicable for abdominal MRA but available if necessary.

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