Barium Swallow (Esophagus X-ray) cost at US hospitals

Esophagram with chest radiographs and delayed images, single-contrast study · CPT 74220

What is Barium Swallow (Esophagus X-ray)? Read the full explainer →

Barium Swallow (Esophagus X-ray)

An esophagram is a live x-ray movie of barium going down the esophagus, with still images taken afterward. It answers whether the swallowing tube itself is narrowed, blocked, refluxing, or moving abnormally. This version uses barium alone rather than barium plus gas.

$69.30

lowest cash price

$484.80

national median

$4,795.68

highest cash price

906

hospitals with a published cash price

Middle half of hospitals (25th–75th percentile) against the full range. The same procedure varies $69.30–$4,795.68 — the variation is the story.

Cheapest published cash price

$69.30

Bristol Regional Medical Center — BRISTOL, TN

Most expensive published cash price

$4,795.68

HCA FLORIDA LEHIGH HOSPITAL — LEHIGH ACRES, FL

Median cash price over time

Sep 1, 2025 ($728.85) → Sep 1, 2026 ($1,419.34)

By state

State Hospitals Lowest cash Median Highest
Alaska 3 $309.12 $967.20 $1,114.62
Arizona 23 $101.46 $150.92 $1,026.93
Arkansas 8 $84.90 $203.45 $558.00
California 90 $150.96 $478.40 $1,284.72
Colorado 17 $127.42 $1,763.36 $3,568.64
Florida 74 $348.40 $1,182.30 $4,795.68
Georgia 25 $390.13 $495.55 $3,739.73
Hawaii 2 $182.08 $182.08 $458.25
Illinois 51 $175.00 $584.80 $1,140.00
Indiana 26 $460.50 $484.80 $1,555.49
Iowa 27 $190.40 $381.01 $744.00
Kansas 11 $252.40 $976.84 $2,246.90
Kentucky 22 $334.55 $574.20 $1,555.49
Louisiana 2 $185.90 $185.90 $185.90
Maine 7 $481.75 $756.20 $1,272.50
Maryland 2 $321.60 $321.60 $321.60
Michigan 27 $90.16 $320.00 $994.40
Minnesota 19 $207.79 $208.99 $668.00
Mississippi 10 $79.20 $144.00 $200.97
Missouri 20 $254.10 $422.95 $2,640.38
Montana 2 $386.40 $386.40 $657.60
Nebraska 12 $313.77 $358.68 $776.05
Nevada 4 $275.50 $520.70 $726.44
New Hampshire 1 $876.85 $876.85 $876.85
New Jersey 21 $115.32 $197.04 $260.04
New Mexico 2 $502.32 $502.32 $502.32
New York 22 $210.66 $210.66 $1,614.00
North Carolina 15 $425.03 $425.03 $939.00
North Dakota 4 $415.20 $616.80 $635.20
Ohio 68 $229.20 $586.80 $1,260.00
Oklahoma 16 $221.54 $525.85 $2,064.36
Oregon 13 $106.92 $747.00 $826.20
Pennsylvania 32 $186.00 $427.80 $1,312.80
South Carolina 11 $272.50 $452.50 $1,705.00
South Dakota 4 $632.80 $647.20 $841.60
Tennessee 36 $69.30 $107.58 $1,983.27
Texas 111 $142.65 $501.34 $4,784.42
Virginia 41 $69.30 $587.50 $2,462.00
Washington 32 $359.32 $568.40 $1,413.30
West Virginia 16 $221.00 $381.00 $625.00
Wisconsin 32 $118.56 $505.00 $1,079.10
Wyoming 4 $143.22 $307.65 $334.74

All hospitals

Hospital Location Cash price Negotiated range
Aurora Baycare Medical Center Green Bay, WI $505.00 not published
Aurora Medical Center Bay Area Marinette, WI $505.00 not published
Aurora Medical Center Burlington Burlington, WI $505.00 not published
Aurora Medical Center Grafton Grafton, WI $505.00 not published
Aurora Medical Center Manitowoc Two Rivers, WI $505.00 not published
Aurora Medical Center Kenosha Kenosha, WI $505.00 not published
Aurora Medical Center Fond du Lac Fond Du Lac, WI $505.00 not published
Aurora Medical Center Sheboygan County Sheboygan, WI $505.00 not published
Aurora Sinai Medical Center of Aurora Health Care Metro Milwaukee, WI $505.00 not published
Aurora Medical Center Summit Summit, WI $505.00 not published
Aurora Medical Center Washington County Hartford, WI $505.00 not published
Aurora West Allis Medical Center West Allis, WI $505.00 not published
Trinity Medical Center East Steubenville, OH $508.33 $512.40 – $657.58
Uniontown Hospital Uniontown, PA $510.00 $21.36 – $353.11
Emory Decatur Hospital Decatur, GA $513.00 $101.92 – $455.55
Emory Hillandale Hospital Lithonia, GA $513.00 $101.92 – $455.55
Emory Long-Term Acute Care Hospital Decatur, GA $513.00 $129.76 – $129.76
Emory Johns Creek Hospital Johns Creek, GA $513.00 $101.92 – $455.55
Emory Rehabilitation Hospital Atlanta, GA $513.00 $101.92 – $455.55
Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital Atlanta, GA $513.00 $101.92 – $455.55
Emory University Hospital Ne, GA $513.00 $101.92 – $455.55
Emory University Hospital Midtown Atlanta, GA $513.00 $101.92 – $455.55
HSHS St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center GREEN BAY, WI $516.12 $12.41 – $456.60
HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital SHEBOYGAN, WI $516.12 $12.41 – $456.60
HSHS St. Vincent Hospital Green Bay, WI $516.12 $12.87 – $456.60
HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital OCONTO FALLS, WI $516.12 $45.58 – $495.60
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison Madison, WI $518.65 $127.78 – $530.47
Ascension St. Vincent Randolph (St. Vincent Randolph Hospital, Inc.) Winchester, IN $519.00 $10.39 – $250.00
MercyOne Centerville Medical Center Centerville, IA $520.00 $142.69 – $520.00
San Martin Hospital Las Vegas, NV $520.70 $98.20 – $1,752.60
Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta Mt Shasta, CA $524.38 $74.31 – $660.52
Providence Seaside Hospital Seaside, OR $525.00 not published
Mercy Hospital Logan County Guthrie, OK $525.85 $57.74 – $464.00
Mercy Hospital Watonga Watonga, OK $525.85 $57.74 – $403.20
Sanford Luverne Medical Center Luverne, MN $526.40 $159.30 – $592.20
Mercy Hospital Kingfisher Kingfisher, OK $529.75 $57.74 – $403.20
ADVENTIST HEALTH DELANO Delano, CA $530.80 $25.54 – $507.59
Sequoia Hospital Redwood City, CA $531.81 $54.64 – $1,198.02
OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center – Urbana Danville, IL $532.20 $187.96 – $191.72
St. Clare Hospital Lakewood, WA $532.50 $444.60 – $1,385.54
Mercy Hospital Ardmore Northwest Ardmore, OK $536.90 $57.74 – $403.20
Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center Thief River Falls, MN $537.60 $186.92 – $604.80
Sanford Behavioral Health Thief River Falls Thief River Falls, MN $537.60 $186.92 – $604.80
OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center Ottawa, IL $539.40 $187.96 – $191.72
Tiffin Hospital Tiffin, OH $544.80 not published
Southeastern Medical Center Cambridge, OH $546.00 $165.94 – $172.58
Marion General Hospital Marion, OH $547.95 $167.48 – $174.18
MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center West Des Moines, IA $549.00 $110.35 – $549.00
Middlesboro ARH Hospital Middlesboro, KY $552.60 $122.03 – $122.03
HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital Breese, IL $553.68 $24.34 – $769.00

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