Summary & Overview
HCPCS C9734: MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Ablation
HCPCS Level II code C9734 denotes MR-guided focused ultrasound ablation or therapeutic intervention for indications other than uterine leiomyomata. The code captures a specialized, image-guided, noninvasive ablative technique that has grown in clinical relevance as MR-guided focused ultrasound is applied to a range of benign and malignant targets. Nationally, the code matters because it identifies high-technology, capital-intensive procedures that require MR-compatible treatment suites, multidisciplinary teams, and specific documentation to support medical necessity and appropriate billing.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will gain a concise view of what C9734 represents clinically and operationally, plus a roadmap to typical coverage considerations and billing contexts to expect across major commercial payers and Medicare. The publication outlines reimbursement benchmarks where available, policy and coverage themes relevant to MR-guided focused ultrasound, and the typical clinical scenarios and service settings where the code is used. Additional sections provide common modifiers, related codes, and guidance on documentation and claim submission practices.
This summary is written for a national audience and provides the essential clinical and billing context for healthcare administrators, coders, and clinicians working with MR-guided focused ultrasound services.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C9734 describes focused ultrasound ablation/therapeutic intervention, other than uterine leiomyomata, with magnetic resonance (MR) guidance. The service is a minimally invasive therapeutic procedure using focused ultrasound energy directed under real-time MR guidance to ablate targeted tissue outside the uterus.
Service type: Image-guided focused ultrasound therapeutic intervention
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgical center with MR guidance capabilities
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult with a focal benign or malignant soft-tissue lesion (for example, a painful osteoid osteoma or a small liver tumor) who is referred for image-guided, noninvasive thermal ablation using focused ultrasound with magnetic resonance guidance. The patient undergoes pre-procedure evaluation including history, physical, lab tests (as indicated), and review of prior imaging to confirm lesion size, location, and MR compatibility. On the day of service the patient is placed supine or prone on the MR table with the ultrasound transducer coupled to the target region. MR sequences are used for planning, realtime thermometry, and post-ablation assessment. The procedure is performed by an interventional radiologist or other qualified physician with MR and focused ultrasound expertise, assisted by MR technologists, nursing staff, and anesthesia as needed. Immediate post-procedure MRI confirms ablation zone and assesses for complications. Typical site of service is an outpatient hospital-based or free-standing ambulatory surgical center with MR capability; inpatient performance occurs when clinically indicated (for example, complex lesion location or medical comorbidity).
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier (standard reporting) | Use when no special circumstance modifier applies. |