UB04 Revenue Code Code 0610: MRI

Overview

Revenue code 0610 is used on the UB‑04 claim form to report Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services provided to a patient. The code falls under the 061X series, “Magnetic Resonance Technology (MRT),” and 0610 specifically denotes a general MRI procedure when no more specific sub‑code applies ^[1]. The Noridian listing groups 0610 under the same category as sub‑codes for brain (0611), spinal cord (0612), head and neck (0615), lower extremities (0616), and other MRI or MRA services ^[1]. The UB‑04 claim form is used by hospitals, clinics, and other institutional providers to submit claims to payers such as Medicare and MassHealth. MassHealth requires that paper UB‑04 claims follow specific instructions, including entering up to 22 revenue code lines per form for outpatient services, which may be bundled ^[2]. Code 0610 must be reported with the appropriate charge amount and linked to the correct date of service and patient demographic information to ensure accurate processing.

When to Use

Revenue code 0610 should be used when billing for an MRI service that does not fall under one of the more specific sub‑codes within the 061X series. The Noridian list includes 0611 (brain), 0612 (spinal cord), 0614 (other MRI), 0615 (head and neck), 0616 (lower extremities), 0618 (other MRA), and 0619 (other MRT) ^[1]. Therefore, 0610 is appropriate only when the MRI procedure is not specifically categorized—for example, a general whole‑body scan that does not target a particular anatomical site listed. Providers should always review payer requirements; some payers may mandate a more specific code to avoid claim denials. The MassHealth UB‑04 guide notes that claims for services must be submitted electronically unless a waiver is granted, and paper claims must follow the form’s completion rules, including separate forms for each member ^[2]. Additionally, code 0610 may be used for MRI services provided in various settings (e.g., hospital outpatient department, independent diagnostic facility) as long as the revenue code hierarchy is observed. Using 0610 when a more precise code exists can lead to incorrect reimbursement or audit scrutiny.

Step-by-Step Claim Example

A hospital outpatient department provides a general MRI of the abdomen (no specific organ site coding available in the 061X series) to a Medicare patient. The charge for the service is $1,200. The provider prepares a UB‑04 claim following MassHealth guidelines (even for Medicare, the form layout is similar). Step 1: Enter patient and facility information in the header fields (e.g., patient name, health insurance claim number). Step 2: In Form Locator 42 (Revenue Code), enter “0610” to represent the general MRI ^[1]. Step 3: In Form Locator 43 (Description), enter “MRI General” or “Magnetic Resonance Imaging, General.” Step 4: In Form Locator 44 (HCPCS/Rates), if required, enter the appropriate HCPCS code (e.g., 74181 for MRI abdomen without contrast) — note that revenue code 0610 does not replace the HCPCS code. Step 5: In Form Locator 45 (Service Date), enter the date the MRI was performed. Step 6: In Form Locator 47 (Total Charges), enter “1200.00.” Step 7: For an outpatient claim, bundle any other same‑day services onto the same form, but do not exceed 22 revenue code lines ^[2]. Step 8: Complete remaining required fields (e.g., patient control number, provider number, signature). Step 9: Submit electronically unless a paper waiver is approved. The claim is processed using revenue code 0610 to identify the service category.

Common Mistakes & Audit Red Flags

One frequent mistake is using revenue code 0610 when a more specific sub‑code exists. For example, billing an MRI of the brain with 0610 instead of 0611 may lead to payer rejections or post‑payment audits. The Noridian list explicitly separates brain, spinal cord, head and neck, and lower extremities ^[1]. Another error is omitting the required HCPCS code when the payer mandates it; revenue code alone may not be sufficient for reimbursement. Providers also fail to bundle multiple outpatient services onto a single UB‑04 form, which can exceed the 22‑line limit and trigger a request for electronic submission ^[2]. Audit red flags include frequent use of the general code 0610 for services that clearly belong to sub‑codes (e.g., all MRIs billed as 0610 regardless of anatomy), as this may indicate upcoding or lack of specificity. Additionally, mismatching revenue codes with place of service or provider type can cause denials. For MassHealth claims, submitting paper without an approved waiver is another compliance issue ^[2]. Providers should verify payer policies on code specificity and maintain documentation supporting the use of general vs. specific revenue codes.

Related Codes/Fields

The table below lists related revenue codes from the 061X series as provided in the Noridian source, along with other relevant codes from the same reference and field instructions from MassHealth.

Code	Meaning	Source
0610	MRI – General	[1]
0611	MRI – Brain	[1]
0612	MRI – Spinal Cord	[1]
0614	MRI – Other MRI	[1]
0615	MRI – Head and Neck	[1]
0616	MRI – Lower Extremities	[1]
0618	MRA – Other	[1]
0619	MRT – Other	[1]
032X	Radiology – Diagnostic (general category, not in source but often related)	Not in provided sources
Form Locator 42	Revenue Code field on UB‑04	[2]
Form Locator 44	HCPCS/Rates field	[2]

Note: Only codes 0610–0619 and the MassHealth field references are directly sourced; other radiology codes are not present in the provided documents and should be verified separately.

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References

[1] Noridian Revenue Codes — https://med.noridianmedicare.com/web/jea/topics/claim-submission/revenue-codes

[2] MassHealth UB-04 Guide — https://www.mass.gov/doc/ub-04-billing-guide-0/download