Magnetic resonance angiography of an upper extremity, with or without contrast, to evaluate the arteries or veins of the arm for blockage, injury, or compression.
- Medicare
- $323.65
- Work RVU
- 1.69
- Global, days
- Region
- Multi-region
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 3 cited references ↓
- Vascular clinical question (thoracic outlet symptoms, pulse deficit, suspected arterial injury)
- Coverage check against the Medicare MRA NCD for Medicare patients
- Signed ABN when the indication is not covered
- Laterality and vessels evaluated
- Signed interpretation with vascular findings
Applicable modifiers
Modifiers commonly billed with this code.
Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual
What this code covers
Source · Editorial summary grounded in 3 cited references ↓
73225 is MR angiography of the arm. It looks at blood vessels, not bone or joint structures. In orthopedic care it comes up for thoracic outlet syndrome workups, suspected vascular injury after an elbow dislocation or supracondylar fracture, vascular malformations in the hand or forearm, and pre-op planning for free tissue transfer.
The status indicator is R, meaning Medicare covers it only in restricted circumstances. Medicare's national coverage determination for MRA lists the indications it accepts, and many upper extremity uses fall outside that list. Read the NCD before scheduling a Medicare patient, and get a signed ABN if the indication is not covered. Without an ABN, the practice eats the cost.
One code covers the study whether or not contrast is used. Do not add a separate MRI code for the same arm unless a distinct non-vascular MRI was ordered, performed, and reported separately. In that case, a 59 or XU modifier may be needed and the two reports should stand on their own.
RVU & reimbursement
Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.
Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026
Work RVU vs. total RVU
The work RVU (1.69) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (9.69) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 1.69 |
| Practice expense RVU | 7.85 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.15 |
| Total RVU | 9.69 |
| Medicare national rate | $323.65 |
| Global period | days |
Payment by site of service
Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.
Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026
| Setting | Medicare rate (national) |
|---|---|
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office | $323.65 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 73225 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Medicare indication not covered under the MRA NCD
- No ABN on file, so the GA modifier was not available
- Billed alongside a same-day MRI of the arm without distinct documentation
- Commercial prior authorization missing
- Diagnosis code is musculoskeletal with no vascular reason
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓
01Does Medicare cover MRA of the arm?
02What does status indicator R mean for 73225?
03Can I bill an MRI and MRA of the arm on the same day?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe notes record the vascular findings that justify the MRA, like a pulse deficit or positional symptoms, which is what a restricted-coverage code needs on the claim.
See how Mira captures CPT 73225 documentation