Anthem BCBS Prior Authorization for Imaging: Phone, Portal, Forms
Where to submit a Anthem BCBS prior authorization for MRI, CT and PET, the phone number to call, the forms and code lists, and the guidelines the reviewer uses.
Anthem plans use Carelon Medical Benefits Management for advanced imaging review. Requirements differ by state and plan, so start from Anthem's prior authorization page for the member's state.
Carelon reviews non-emergency CT (including CT angiography and coronary calcium scoring), MRI, MRA, MR spectroscopy, functional MRI, PET and nuclear cardiac imaging, and in some plans echocardiography.
Carelon may also review the site of care, steering MRI and CT to a free-standing imaging center when a hospital setting is not clinically needed.
For a member-specific question, Carelon directs providers to the number on the patient's health plan ID card.
Checked against providers.carelonmedicalbenefitsmanagement.com on September 29, 2026. Plans change their vendors and phone numbers; if something here is out of date, tell us.
Guideline sections by body area
The 530 sections of Anthem BCBS's imaging guidelines held on this site, grouped by body area. Look up a CPT code to see which apply to a study.
General (109)
CARELON-SPE-028: Amyloidosis
CARELON-NUCMED-028: Ascites
CARELON-NUCMED-049: Ascites
CARELON-SPE-004: Avascular necrosis
CARELON-NUCMED-005: Avascular necrosis, when MRI cannot be performed or is nondi...
CARELON-NUCMED-052: Brain and spinal cord malignancies
CARELON-NUCMED-037: Breast cancer
CARELON-NUCMED-053: Cerebrospinal fluid leak of the skull base
Anthem plans use Carelon Medical Benefits Management for advanced imaging review. Requirements differ by state and plan, so start from Anthem's prior authorization page for the member's state. Submit through the Carelon provider portal.
800-252-2021 (Carelon provider portal support).
Carelon reviews non-emergency CT (including CT angiography and coronary calcium scoring), MRI, MRA, MR spectroscopy, functional MRI, PET and nuclear cardiac imaging, and in some plans echocardiography. Carelon may also review the site of care, steering MRI and CT to a free-standing imaging center when a hospital setting is not clinically needed.
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