Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Medicare covers MRI and MRA when performed on FDA-cleared equipment and when reasonable and necessary for diagnosis or treatment, including defined indications such as CNS/spine imaging, evaluation of mediastinal/retroperitoneal masses, solid organ parenchyma, peripheral vascular disease, AAA preoperative planning, renal/aortoiliac imaging, pulmonary embolism when iodinated contrast is contraindicated, and certain implanted cardiac devices under specified conditions. Coverage excludes MRI during viable pregnancy, MRI for cortical bone and calcifications or metallic aneurysm clips, and situations unsafe due to ferromagnetic life-support devices; MRA and conventional angiography are not both routinely covered for the same diagnostic purpose unless medical necessity for both is documented.

"MRI is covered for evaluation of the head, central nervous system, and spine, including diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and visualization of posterior fossa structures."