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
Southern Virginia Medical Center Emporia, VA $556.50 not published
CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN $557.52 $49.61 – $922.60
CHI St. Vincent Hospital Hot Springs Hot Springs, AR $558.00 $81.72 – $446.40
Ascension Seton Cedar Park Hospital Cedar Park, TX $560.33 $67.53 – $737.99
Thomas Hospitals South Charleston, WV $560.50 $21.36 – $847.35
University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center Ashland, OH $561.00 $170.10 – $356.07
St. Anthony Hospital Gig Harbor, WA $561.88 $444.60 – $1,385.54
St. Anne Hospital Burien, WA $564.11 $472.07 – $1,662.65
Ascension St. Vincent Evansville (St. Mary's Health, Inc.) IN 47750|10388 Warrick Wellness Trail Newburgh, IN $564.60 $10.39 – $250.00
Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank, CA $565.25 $122.39 – $610.71
Whitesburg ARH Hospital Whitesburg, KY $567.00 $26.99 – $94.53
Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, OK $567.45 $36.00 – $364.91
MultiCare Auburn Medical Center Auburn, WA $568.40 $39.73 – $841.97
MultiCare Covington Medical Center Covington, WA $568.40 $39.73 – $841.97
MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital Puyallup, WA $568.40 $40.64 – $841.97
MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital Tacoma, WA $568.40 $40.46 – $1,418.37
MultiCare Allenmore Hospital Tacoma, WA $568.40 $40.66 – $841.97
Mercy Hospital Healdton Healdton, OK $569.40 $57.74 – $403.20
University Hospitals Conneaut Medical Center Conneaut, OH $570.00 $189.36 – $356.07
University Hospitals Geneva Medical Center Geneva, OH $570.00 $189.36 – $356.07
Allen Hospital Oberlin, OH $571.20 not published
Beckley ARH Hospital Beckley, WV $574.20 $21.36 – $767.43
Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center Hazard, KY $574.20 $26.99 – $144.67
Siena Hospital Henderson, NV $576.58 $98.20 – $1,752.60
St. Francis Hospital Federal Way, WA $579.76 $444.60 – $1,385.54
Dell Children's Medical Center (Ascension Seton) Austin, TX $581.35 $67.53 – $737.99
RIDEOUT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Marysville, CA $583.88 $23.60 – $2,511.30
OSF Saint Clare Medical Center Princeton, IL $584.80 not published
Jewish Hospital Cincinnati, OH $586.80 not published
Anderson Hospital Cincinnati, OH $586.80 not published
Clermont Hospital Batavia, OH $586.80 not published
Kings Mills Hospital Mason, OH $586.80 not published
Fairfield Hospital Fairfield, OH $586.80 not published
Mercy West Hospital Cincinnati, OH $586.80 not published
Sentara Leigh Hospital Norfolk, VA $587.50 $174.56 – $179.69
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital Virginia Beach, VA $587.50 $174.56 – $179.69
Sentara Princess Anne Hospital Virginia Beach, VA $587.50 $174.56 – $179.69
Sentara Obici Hospital Suffolk, VA $587.50 $123.09 – $179.69
Sentara CarePlex Hospital Hampton, VA $587.50 $174.56 – $179.69
Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center Woodbridge, VA $587.50 $174.56 – $246.50
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Norfolk, VA $587.50 $174.56 – $179.69
MUSC Health Florence Medical Center Florence, SC $603.50 $104.60 – $179.45
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Emergency Center - Alon San Antonio, TX $607.53 $83.54 – $334.32
Mercy Hospital Southeast Cape Girardeau, MO $611.00 $115.95 – $1,127.17
Mercy Hospital Stoddard Dexter, MO $611.00 $151.76 – $1,127.17
St. Joseph Medical Center Tacoma, WA $611.85 $444.60 – $1,385.54
Central Medical Center Seattle, WA $616.00 $179.00 – $179.00
Sanford Medical Center Hillsboro Hillsboro, ND $616.80 $186.66 – $693.90
Sanford Medical Center Mayville Mayville, ND $616.80 $186.66 – $693.90
Sanford Worthington Medical Center Worthington, MN $618.40 $135.41 – $695.70

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