Who reviews prior authorization requests for Radiologist reviews MRI imaging for needle placement guidance (CPT 77021)?

Most commercial payers hand imaging reviews to a radiology benefit manager. For the payers tracked here, requests are reviewed using guidelines from eviCore, Carelon, CMS, UnitedHealthcare / eviCore. The request is submitted through that organization's portal rather than the health plan's general line.

What should be in the clinical notes before requesting Radiologist reviews MRI imaging for needle placement guidance (CPT 77021)?

Reviewers look for a recent office visit that documents the symptoms and how long they have lasted, exam findings, results of any earlier imaging, treatments already tried and how the patient responded, and the specific question the study is expected to answer. The diagnosis code on the request should match what the notes describe.

CPT 77021: Radiologist reviews MRI imaging for needle placement guidance - Prior Authorization and Price

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CPT 77021

Radiologist reviews MRI imaging for needle placement guidance.

Other Imaging

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Payer guidelines that apply

Payer	Reviewed using	Guideline	Sections
Aetna	eviCore	Breast Imaging Guidelines 2.0.2026, effective Sep 1, 2026 Oncology Imaging Guidelines 2.0.2026, effective Sep 1, 2026	2 that name this code
Anthem BCBS	Carelon	Current guideline	None found
Cigna	eviCore	Breast Imaging Guidelines 2.0.2026, effective Sep 1, 2026 Oncology Imaging Guidelines 2.0.2026, effective Sep 1, 2026	2 that name this code
Medicare	CMS	—	None found
Original Medicare does not run a prior authorization program for outpatient imaging; claims are judged against the coverage policies above. Medicare Advantage plans set their own prior authorization rules.
UnitedHealthcare	UnitedHealthcare / eviCore	Commercial and Exchange Cardiovascular and Radiology Imaging Guidelines 09.2026, effective Sep 1, 2026	2 that name this code

Guidelines collected from the payers' published documents on September 29, 2026. Payers revise these documents during the year. Open the guideline link to confirm the current version before you submit.

Conditions the guidelines address for this study

These are the clinical situations where payer guidelines discuss Radiologist reviews MRI imaging for needle placement guidance. Each has its own criteria for when the study is considered appropriate.

MRI Breast Coding Aetna · Cigna · UnitedHealthcare
Prostate Cancer Aetna · Cigna · UnitedHealthcare

Typical price

Commercial insurance, median

$1,110

Middle half of rates: $687 to $1,723

Medicare, physician fee schedule

$429

National, non-facility

Commercial figures come from negotiated rates published by 519 hospitals; Medicare figures from CMS fee schedules. Rates vary widely by hospital and plan. Pricing data from CenterIQ.

Get notified when the rules for this study change

Payers update imaging guidelines several times a year. We will email you when the criteria for Radiologist reviews MRI imaging for needle placement guidance change.

CPT 77021: Radiologist reviews MRI imaging for needle placement guidance - Prior Authorization and Price

Payer guidelines that apply

Conditions the guidelines address for this study

Typical price

Get notified when the rules for this study change

Frequently asked questions

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