Summary & Overview
HCPCS Level II C9762: Cardiac MRI for Morphology and Function with Strain
HCPCS Level II code C9762 represents cardiac magnetic resonance imaging focused on morphology and function with quantification of segmental dysfunction and inclusion of strain imaging. This code captures advanced imaging that provides detailed assessment of ventricular structure, regional wall motion abnormalities, and myocardial deformation metrics used in diagnosis and management of cardiomyopathies, ischemic injury, and other structural heart disease. Nationally, the code matters because it formalizes reporting for advanced cardiac MRI techniques that have growing clinical utility and potential implications for coverage and payment policy.
Key payers covered in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical service represented, typical sites of service, and the common billing modifiers associated with this HCPCS Level II code. The publication summarizes benchmarking context and policy considerations relevant to payer coverage and claims processing, and provides clinical context to help coding, billing, and compliance staff understand when this service is reported.
Content areas include the clinical rationale for strain imaging in cardiac MRI, expected documentation elements, and operational implications for outpatient imaging centers and hospital-based radiology departments. Data on payer-specific coverage policies, utilization benchmarks, and associated diagnoses are summarized where available. Data not available in the input.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C9762 describes cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for morphology and function with quantification of segmental dysfunction and strain imaging. The service captures advanced cardiac MRI techniques that assess heart structure, ventricular function, regional wall motion, and myocardial strain metrics.
Service Type: Cardiac MRI with strain imaging
Typical Site of Service: Hospital outpatient imaging center or freestanding imaging facility
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old male with a history of ischemic cardiomyopathy and new exertional dyspnea is referred for advanced cardiac imaging to quantify left ventricular segmental dysfunction and myocardial mechanics. The patient undergoes a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study that includes cine imaging for morphology and function, late gadolinium enhancement for scar characterization, and strain imaging to quantify regional myocardial deformation. The clinical workflow includes preauthorization and scheduling, patient screening for MRI safety and gadolinium contrast contraindications, IV placement for contrast, performance of ECG-gated cine sequences and myocardial strain sequences (feature-tracking or dedicated tagging), post-contrast delayed enhancement sequences, image processing for volumetric and segmental function quantification, and generation of a structured report documenting chamber sizes, ejection fraction, regional wall motion abnormalities by segment, global and segmental strain values, and presence/extent of scar.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier — standard reporting | Use when no special circumstances apply and the service is billed as usual. |
22 | Increased procedural services |