Summary & Overview
HCPCS C8914: Magnetic Resonance Angiography, Lower Extremity (Non-contrast then Contrast)
HCPCS Level II code C8914 represents magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the lower extremity performed first without intravenous contrast and then repeated with contrast. This combined non-contrast and contrast MRA protocol is used to evaluate peripheral arterial anatomy, stenosis, occlusion, and other vascular pathology, and is important for care planning in vascular surgery, interventional radiology, and outpatient vascular medicine. Nationally, accurate coding of combined non-contrast and contrast MRA affects utilization tracking, payer adjudication, and clinical documentation for peripheral vascular disease management.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of what C8914 represents clinically, typical sites of service, and the service type. The publication also provides benchmark context, common billing and documentation considerations, and relevant policy updates that influence coverage and reimbursement practices. Where input data is unavailable, the report notes missing elements explicitly.
This summary serves clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts seeking a clear, national-level overview of HCPCS Level II code C8914, its clinical use for lower extremity vascular imaging, and the payer landscape relevant to its administration.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C8914 describes magnetic resonance angiography without contrast followed by with contrast, lower extremity. The service involves acquiring non-contrast MR angiographic images of the lower extremity vasculature followed by contrast-enhanced sequences to evaluate arterial anatomy and pathology.
Service Type: Imaging — Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA)
Typical Site of Service: Outpatient imaging center or hospital outpatient radiology department, where MRI scanners and contrast administration capabilities are available.
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
An adult patient with progressive exertional calf pain, rest pain, or nonhealing foot ulcer is referred for vascular imaging to evaluate peripheral arterial disease of the lower extremities. The patient presents to an outpatient imaging center or hospital radiology department after an initial clinical assessment by a vascular surgeon or primary care physician. Contraindications to iodinated contrast or a need for high-resolution vessel mapping prompt performance of a noncontrast MR angiography followed by contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the lower extremities to characterize stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysm.
The clinical workflow includes: outpatient scheduling with pre-screening for MRI safety and contrast allergies, arrival and verification of indications and renal function testing if required, MRI safety checklist, acquisition of noncontrast time-of-flight or phase-contrast MRA sequences of the pelvis and legs, administration of gadolinium-based contrast agent with dynamic contrast-enhanced sequences, postprocessing to produce run-off vessel maps, radiologist interpretation with comparison to prior imaging if available, and final report communicated to the referring vascular specialist for management planning.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When billing only the physician interpretation separate from technical component |