decisionhealth Newsletters, Answer Books - 2010 Issue 8 (August)
Appendix E - National Coverage Determinations Manual / MAGNETIC_RESONANCE_ANGIOGRAPHY
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Article Overview
This page is an informational CMS coverage reference for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) under the National Coverage Determinations Manual. It outlines the general imaging context, the major body areas and clinical situations addressed in the coverage policy, the effective-date notes, and the distinction between nationally covered and noncovered indications. It is useful for coders, billing staff, and compliance teams who need to understand the scope of this older NCD entry and its relationship to later updates.
Why This Topic Matters
Understanding the scope of this coverage article helps users identify whether a claim scenario falls within the historical MRA policy discussed here and whether a different CMS policy reference may be more current.
Article Sections
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General
Introduces magnetic resonance angiography and describes the imaging approaches discussed in the policy background. It also explains the general relationship between MRA and other imaging modalities referenced by CMS.
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Nationally covered indications
Summarizes the body areas and clinical situations addressed by the coverage policy. The section is organized by major anatomic region and includes CMS commentary on when coverage is considered within scope.
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Head and Neck
Addresses the head-and-neck portion of the MRA coverage discussion and the broad clinical settings included in that area. It also notes the policy context for related imaging choices.
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Peripheral Arteries of Lower Extremities
Covers the lower-extremity vascular portion of the policy and the general situations discussed for peripheral arterial imaging. It includes CMS’s discussion of related evaluation pathways.
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Abdomen and Pelvis
Reviews abdominal and pelvic MRA coverage topics, including elective aortic aneurysm repair and renal/aortoiliac imaging. The section also covers the effective-date notes associated with those topics.
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Chest
Discusses chest MRA coverage topics involving pulmonary and thoracic vascular evaluation. It includes the policy’s general statements about alternative imaging and medical necessity.
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Nationally Noncovered Indications
States the general noncoverage framework for MRA uses not specifically addressed by CMS. This section distinguishes noncovered uses from the nationally covered indications above.
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Other
Contains a brief administrative placeholder section indicating no additional content. It serves only as a policy-document remainder.
What You Will Learn
- How CMS framed magnetic resonance angiography within the National Coverage Determinations Manual
- Which broad anatomic areas and clinical scenarios are discussed in the coverage policy
- How the article distinguishes covered indications from noncovered uses
- What historical effective-date and revision notes accompany this NCD entry
- How this older policy entry relates to later CMS coverage references
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Compliance professionals
- Health information management professionals
- Radiology practices
- Payer policy analysts
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