Summary & Overview
HCPCS C8908: MRI Breast, Bilateral, Without Then With Contrast
HCPCS Level II code C8908 denotes bilateral breast magnetic resonance imaging performed without contrast followed by with contrast. This combined sequential MRI approach is used to evaluate breast tissue for lesions, treatment response, and screening in high-risk patients. As a national coding descriptor, C8908 standardizes reporting for payers and providers, supporting clinical documentation, utilization tracking, and reimbursement processes across outpatient imaging centers and hospital radiology departments.
Key payers included in the analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise review of what C8908 represents clinically, typical sites of service, and the payer landscape covered. The publication outlines common billing practices and reporting considerations for bilateral breast MRI performed without then with contrast, and summarizes areas where policy updates and reimbursement nuances commonly arise.
This resource is intended to help billing managers, radiology administrators, and policy analysts understand the code’s clinical context, where it is billed, and what to expect from major national payers. Data not available in the input where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C8908 describes magnetic resonance imaging without contrast followed by with contrast, breast; bilateral. The service type is diagnostic imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of both breasts, performed first without contrast and then with contrast administration. The typical site of service is an outpatient imaging center or hospital outpatient radiology department where MRI equipment and contrast administration are available.
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 48-year-old woman with a strong family history of breast cancer and prior atypical ductal hyperplasia presents for advanced imaging after an abnormal screening mammogram and ultrasound. The referring breast surgeon orders a bilateral breast MRI with a protocol that acquires images without intravenous contrast followed immediately by images with gadolinium-based contrast to evaluate the extent of suspicious findings and to detect multicentric or contralateral disease. The patient arrives at an outpatient imaging center; pre-procedure screening confirms no contraindications to MRI or gadolinium, IV access is obtained, and local safety checks for implants and renal function are reviewed. The study is performed supine/prone per facility protocol, with non-contrast sequences first to document baseline morphology and diffusion characteristics, then dynamic contrast-enhanced sequences after contrast administration. Images are reviewed by a board-certified diagnostic radiologist with breast imaging expertise, who provides a BI-RADS assessment and communicates findings to the referring surgeon and the patient’s primary care clinician.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the radiologist’s interpretation separate from technical imaging services. |
TC |