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The rules say that plans must pay for a medical service or item if regular Medicare would pay for it in this case. 
You can find this rule at 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 422.101. 
 
The rules state that MRA is considered appropriate when it can replace a more invasive test (e.g., contrast 
angiography) and reduce risk for beneficiaries. In addition, the services must be reasonable and necessary for 
the diagnosis or treatment of the specific patient involved. 
  
   
You can find this information in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Magnetic Resonance Angiography 
L34424. 
 
Currently covered indications include using MRA for specific conditions to evaluate flow in internal carotid 
vessels of the head and neck, peripheral arteries of lower extremities, abdomen and pelvis, and the chest. 
Coverage is limited to MRA units that have received FDA premarket approval, and such units must be operated 
within the parameters specified by the approval. In addition, the services must be reasonable and necessary for 
the diagnosis or treatment of the specific patient involved. 
  
a. HEAD AND NECK 
Studies have proven that MRA is effective for evaluating flow in internal carotid vessels of the head and neck. 
However, not all potential applications of MRA have been shown to be reasonable and necessary. All of the 
following criteria must apply in order for Medicare to provide coverage for MRA of the head and neck:  
   MRA is used to evaluate the carotid arteries, the circle of Willis, the anterior, middle or posterior cerebral 
arteries, the vertebral or basilar arteries or the venous sinuses;  
   MRA is performed on patients with conditions of the head and neck for which surgery is anticipated and 
may be found to be appropriate based on the MRA. These conditions include, but are not limited to, tumor, 
aneurysms, vascular malformations, vascular occlusion or thrombosis. Within this broad category of disorders, 
medical necessity is the underlying determinant of the need for an MRA in specific diseases. The medical 
records should clearly justify and demonstrate the existence of medical necessity; and  
   MRA and CA are not expected to be performed on the same patient for diagnostic purposes prior to the 
application of anticipated therapy. Only one of these tests will be covered routinely unless the physician can 
demonstrate the medical need to perform both tests.  
 
b. PERIPHERAL ARTERIES OF LOWER EXTREMITIES  
Studies have proven that MRA of peripheral arteries is useful in determining the presence and extent of 
peripheral vascular disease in lower extremities. This procedure is non-invasive and has been shown to find 
occult vessels in some patients for which those vessels were not apparent when CA was performed. Medicare 
will cover either MRA or CA to evaluate peripheral arteries of the lower extremities. However, both MRA and 
CA may be useful in some cases, such as:  
   A patient has had CA and this test was unable to identify a viable run-off vessel for bypass. When 
exploratory surgery is not believed to be a reasonable medical course of action for this patient, MRA may be 
performed to identify the viable runoff vessel; or  
   A patient has had MRA, but the results are inconclusive.  
 
c. ABDOMEN AND PELVIS  
i. Pre-operative Evaluation of Patients Undergoing Elective Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repair  
MRA is covered for pre-operative evaluation of patients undergoing elective AAA repair if the scientific 
evidence reveals MRA is considered comparable to CA in determining the extent of AAA, as well as in 
evaluating aortoiliac occlusion disease and renal artery pathology that may be necessary in the surgical 
planning of AAA repair. These studies also reveal that MRA could provide a net benefit to the patient. If 
preoperative CA is avoided, then patients are not exposed to the risks associated with invasive procedures, 
contrast media, end-organ damage, or arterial injury.  
ii. Imaging the Renal Arteries and the Aortoiliac Arteries in the Absence of AAA or Aortic Dissection  
MRA coverage is expanded to include imaging the renal arteries and the aortoiliac arteries in the absence of 
AAA or aortic dissection. MRA should be obtained in those circumstances in which using MRA is expected to 
avoid obtaining CA, when physician history, physical examination, and standard assessment tools provide 
insufficient information for patient management, and obtaining an MRA has a high probability of positively 
affecting patient management. However, CA may be ordered after obtaining the results of an MRA in those 
rare instances where medical necessity is demonstrated.  
 d. CHEST  
i. Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism  
Current scientific data has shown that diagnostic pulmonary MRAs are improving due to recent developments 
such as faster imaging capabilities and gadolinium-enhancement. However, these advances in MRA are not 
significant enough to warrant replacement of pulmonary angiography in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism 
for patients who have no contraindication to receiving intravenous iodinated contrast material. Patients who are 
allergic to iodinated contrast material face a high risk of developing complications if they undergo pulmonary 
angiography or computed tomography angiography. Therefore, Medicare will cover MRA of the chest for 
diagnosing a suspected pulmonary embolism when it is contraindicated for the patient to receive intravascular 
iodinated contrast material.  
ii. Evaluation of Thoracic Aortic Dissection and Aneurysm  
Studies have shown that MRA of the chest has a high level of diagnostic accuracy for pre-operative and post-
operative evaluation of aortic dissection of aneurysm. Depending on the clinical presentation, MRA may be 
used as an alternative to other non-invasive imaging technologies, such as transesophageal echocardiography 
and CT. Generally, Medicare will provide coverage only for MRA or for CA when used as a diagnostic test. 
However, if both MRA and CA of the chest are used, the physician must demonstrate the medical need for 
performing these tests.  
 
While the intent of this policy is to provide reimbursement for either RA or CA, the Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services (CMS) is also allowing flexibility for physicians to make appropriate decisions concerning 
the use of these tests based on the needs of individual patients. CMS anticipates, however, low utilization of the 
combined use of MRA and CA. Where indicated, evidence of the need to perform both MRA and CA is 
required. 
 
You can find this information in the Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual, Chapter 1, Section 
220.2(B)(2). 
 
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.