Summary & Overview
HCPCS C8912: Magnetic Resonance Angiography With Contrast, Lower Extremity
HCPCS Level II code C8912 denotes magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with contrast targeting the lower extremity arterial system. MRA with contrast is a noninvasive vascular imaging modality used to evaluate peripheral arterial disease, arterial stenosis, occlusion, and other vascular pathologies. Nationally, accurate coding for contrast-enhanced lower extremity MRA affects coverage determinations, claims processing, and clinical documentation practices across payers.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of code definition and clinical context, payer coverage considerations, common billing modifiers and their relevance, and benchmarking where available. The publication outlines typical sites of service and procedural characterization to aid billing staff and coders in proper claim assembly.
This summary provides clinical context for the use of contrast-enhanced lower extremity MRA, highlights payer groups commonly involved in reimbursement decisions, and identifies the types of operational and policy information included in the full publication. Data not available in the input is noted where specific payer policy details, taxonomies, ICD-10 pairings, and related codes would normally appear.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C8912 describes magnetic resonance angiography with contrast of the lower extremity. This service is an imaging study that uses magnetic resonance technology combined with intravenous contrast to visualize arteries and vascular structures in the legs.
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Service type: Diagnostic imaging (magnetic resonance angiography)
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Typical site of service: Outpatient imaging centers or hospital outpatient departments where advanced MR scanners are available.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 68-year-old male with a history of peripheral arterial disease, tobacco use, and prior intermittent claudication presents with worsening right calf pain on exertion and a nonhealing ulcer near the lateral malleolus. Noninvasive arterial Doppler ankle–brachial indices show diminished perfusion in the right lower extremity. The vascular specialist orders C8912 (magnetic resonance angiography with contrast, lower extremity) to evaluate arterial runoff, identify stenosis or occlusion, and to plan possible endovascular intervention.
The clinical workflow: the patient is screened for MRI and gadolinium contrast contraindications (renal function, implanted devices). Informed consent is obtained. The patient arrives to an outpatient radiology center or hospital imaging department (typical sites of service: outpatient imaging center or hospital outpatient department). A technologist performs the MRA using gadolinium contrast per protocol for lower extremity runoff. Images are interpreted by an attending radiologist or vascular surgeon; findings are communicated to the ordering provider to guide medical management or interventional planning. Typical documentation includes clinical indication, consent, contrast agent used, sequences obtained, findings (location and severity of stenosis/occlusion), and radiologist impression.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component |