C8905 — Magnetic resonance imaging without contrast followed by with contrast, breast; unilateral
C8905 is a HCPCS Level II code for magnetic resonance imaging without contrast followed by with contrast, breast; unilateral. It belongs to the Outpatient Prospective Payment System section. Whether Medicare pays it depends on the coverage rule below.
Medicare coverage: Special coverage instructions apply
There are published conditions attached to this code. Check the applicable coverage policy before billing it: the code being valid is not the same as the service being covered.
From the coverage field of the CMS Alpha-Numeric HCPCS File, release 2026Q3-Jul. This states Medicare’s position on the code, not on your particular claim.
Medically Unlikely Edits — units per day
The most units of C8905 Medicare will pay on one date of service. Bill more on a single line and it is denied. The limit is not the same in every setting, so the row that matters is the one matching the claim you are building.
- practitioner
- 1 unit MAI 3 — Date of Service Edit: Clinical · Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction
- outpatient
- 1 unit MAI 3 — Date of Service Edit: Clinical · Code Descriptor / CPT Instruction
The adjudication indicator decides whether exceeding the limit is worth appealing at all: MAI 1 is a line edit you can support with documentation, MAI 3 is a date-of-service edit that is also appealable, and MAI 2 is absolute — no documentation overrides it. CMS MUE 2026Q3.
The CMS record for C8905
- Long descriptor
- Magnetic resonance imaging without contrast followed by with contrast, breast; unilateral
- Short descriptor
- Mri w/o fol w/cont, brst, un
- Added
- October 1, 2001
- BETOS
- I2D
- Pricing indicator
- 53 — Other
The official wording. This is what the code means.
CMS's 28-character form, which is what shows up on a remittance advice.
When CMS introduced the code.
Berenson-Eggers Type of Service — CMS's own analytic grouping.
Statute.
Codes adjacent to C8905
HCPCS has no hierarchy — related items simply sit next to each other in the numbering. If C8905 is not quite right, the correct code is very often within a few positions of it.
- C8012Revision or replacement of hypoglossal nerve(s) neurostimulator electrode array(s) and receiver
- C8013Removal of hypoglossal nerve(s) neurostimulator electrode array(s) and receiver
- C8014Cystourethroscopy, with ureteroscopy and/or pyeloscopy, with lithotripsy, including use of a suction enabled ureteral access sheath, with irrigation (if performed)
- C8900Magnetic resonance angiography with contrast, abdomen
- C8901Magnetic resonance angiography without contrast, abdomen
- C8902Magnetic resonance angiography without contrast followed by with contrast, abdomen
- C8903Magnetic resonance imaging with contrast, breast; unilateral
- C8904Magnetic resonance imaging without contrast, breast; unilateralterminated
- C8906Magnetic resonance imaging with contrast, breast; bilateral
- C8907Magnetic resonance imaging without contrast, breast; bilateralterminated
- C8908Magnetic resonance imaging without contrast followed by with contrast, breast; bilateral
- C8909Magnetic resonance angiography with contrast, chest (excluding myocardium)
- C8910Magnetic resonance angiography without contrast, chest (excluding myocardium)
- C8911Magnetic resonance angiography without contrast followed by with contrast, chest (excluding myocardium)
- C8912Magnetic resonance angiography with contrast, lower extremity
- C8913Magnetic resonance angiography without contrast, lower extremity
Questions about C8905
What is HCPCS code C8905?
C8905 is a HCPCS Level II code for magnetic resonance imaging without contrast followed by with contrast, breast; unilateral. It sits in the Outpatient Prospective Payment System section.
Does Medicare cover C8905?
The CMS HCPCS file marks C8905 as "Special coverage instructions apply". There are published conditions attached to this code. Check the applicable coverage policy before billing it: the code being valid is not the same as the service being covered.