Summary & Overview
HCPCS C8931: Magnetic Resonance Angiography of Spinal Canal with Contrast
HCPCS Level II code C8931 denotes magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with contrast of the spinal canal and its contents. This specialized imaging code is used when contrast-enhanced MRI techniques are required to evaluate the spinal canal structures and associated vasculature, which can be critical for diagnosing vascular malformations, spinal cord compression with vascular concerns, or pre-surgical vascular mapping. Nationally, accurate coding of C8931 affects clinical documentation, utilization monitoring, and appropriate reimbursement for high-complexity imaging studies.
Key payers included in this overview are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical and technical context for C8931, typical sites of service, common billing modifiers (listed separately), and what benchmark and policy elements are commonly reviewed around advanced spinal MRA procedures. The content summarizes where C8931 is typically applied in clinical workflows and outlines the essential coding context for payer discussions and claims adjudication.
This national-level summary is intended to orient radiology managers, billing teams, and policy analysts to the primary purpose of the code and the areas of practice and reimbursement that are most relevant to contrast-enhanced spinal canal MRA studies.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C8931 describes magnetic resonance angiography with contrast of the spinal canal and its contents. This is an advanced imaging procedure that uses magnetic resonance technology and intravenous contrast to visualize the spinal canal, spinal cord, nerve roots, and associated vasculature.
Service Type: Imaging — Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) with contrast
Typical Site of Service: Hospital outpatient radiology department or independent outpatient imaging center
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old patient with progressive lower extremity radiculopathy, intermittent neurogenic claudication, and a history of prior lumbar surgery is referred for advanced imaging to evaluate spinal canal pathology. The ordering neurosurgeon requests a contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography study focused on the spinal canal and its contents to assess for vascular malformation, postoperative scar versus recurrent disc herniation, and epidural venous plexus enlargement. The clinical workflow begins with outpatient scheduling and pre-procedure screening for renal function and contrast allergy. On the day of service the patient arrives at an outpatient imaging center or hospital-based radiology department (typical site of service: outpatient hospital radiology suite or freestanding imaging center). A radiology technologist performs patient positioning and IV access; a contrast-enhanced MR angiography sequence is acquired on an MRI scanner per protocol for spinal canal evaluation. A radiologist interprets the images, documents findings in a radiology report, and communicates urgent results to the referring provider. Billing uses the HCPCS Level II code C8931 for magnetic resonance angiography with contrast of the spinal canal and contents, with appropriate HCPCS modifiers appended as indicated by payer rules and clinical circumstances.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component |