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
Arroyo Grande Hospital Santa Maria, CA $619.32 $54.64 – $1,178.94
Providence Mission Hospital - Mission Viejo Mission Viejo, CA $622.56 $191.76 – $417.35
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center Peoria, IL $624.00 $62.84 – $639.00
Weirton Medical Center Weirton, WV $625.00 $21.36 – $852.12
Corewell Health Gross Pointe Grosse Pointe, MI $629.00 $77.36 – $236.04
Corewell Health Taylor Taylor, MI $629.00 $104.61 – $236.04
Corewell Health Trenton Trenton, MI $629.00 $104.61 – $236.04
Corewell Health Troy Troy, MI $629.00 $76.99 – $235.94
Corewell Health Wayne Wayne, MI $629.00 $104.61 – $236.04
Urbana Hospital Urbana, OH $630.60 not published
CHI Health Good Samaritan Kearney, NE $630.74 $130.73 – $961.62
OSF Little Company of Mary Medical Center Evergreen Park, IL $631.80 $54.43 – $349.61
Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center Aberdeen, SD $632.80 $169.12 – $711.90
Hardin Memorial Hospital Kenton, OH $633.10 not published
Willard Hospital Willard, OH $633.60 not published
Lourdes Hospital Paducah, KY $634.80 not published
Sanford Fargo Medical Center Fargo, ND $635.20 $97.20 – $714.60
Providence St Luke's Rehabilitation Medical Center Spokane, WA $635.67 $75.44 – $215.00
AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach New Smyrna Beach, FL $639.18 $174.01 – $400.13
HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital HIGHLAND, IL $641.52 $56.64 – $891.00
Springfield Medical Center Springfield, OH $642.00 not published
St Jude Medical Center Fullerton, CA $644.16 $191.76 – $417.35
OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Rockford, IL $645.60 $62.84 – $657.87
Sanford Vermillion Hospital Vermillion, SD $647.20 $238.66 – $728.10
Sanford Canby Medical Center Canby, MN $652.00 $186.92 – $733.50
St. Elizabeth Hospital Enumclaw, WA $652.80 $204.25 – $1,662.65
St Patrick Hospital - Broadway Campus Missoula, MT $657.60 $130.64 – $588.44
CHI Health St. Francis Grand Island, NE $658.44 $130.73 – $1,049.04
MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center Waterloo, IA $665.60 $165.25 – $1,024.00
MercyOne Cedar Falls Medical Center Cedar Falls, IA $665.60 $165.25 – $1,024.00
Sanford Bemidji Medical Center Bemidji, MN $668.00 $132.55 – $751.50
HSHS St. Francis Hospital LITCHFIELD, IL $669.60 $34.84 – $930.00
Sanford Hospital Webster Webster, SD $672.00 $263.76 – $756.00
Mercy Hospital of Folsom Folsom, CA $677.64 $54.64 – $1,428.44
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Cleveland OH 44106|3999 Richmond Road, OH $691.50 $165.94 – $356.07
UPMC Muncy Muncy, PA $713.40 $28.80 – $186.56
UPMC Williamsport Williamsport, PA $713.40 $28.80 – $192.64
HSHS Holy Family Hospital GREENVILLE, IL $718.56 $25.55 – $234.95
Harlan ARH Hospital KY 40831, KY $721.20 $163.49 – $163.49
Paintsville ARH Hospital Paintsville, KY $721.20 $112.07 – $112.07
Houston Methodist Hospital Houston, TX $722.00 $176.20 – $704.80
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital Spokane, WA $722.40 $195.46 – $655.99
Rose de Lima Hospital Henderson, NV $726.44 $98.20 – $1,752.60
Lorain Hospital Lorain, OH $726.60 not published
Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola (Sacred Heart Health System, Inc.) Pensacola, FL $726.80 $178.69 – $393.89
Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz, CA $727.65 $54.64 – $2,918.31
Lincoln Health Damariscotta, ME $728.85 $28.52 – $661.80
OSF St Mary Medical Center Galesburg, IL $732.00 $187.96 – $191.72
Boca Raton Regional Hospital BOCA RATON, FL $738.40 $161.10 – $741.81
Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon, IA $744.00 $265.05 – $837.00

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