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

909

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 ($1,472.72)

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 23 $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 34 $186.00 $479.20 $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
St. Joseph's Medical Center Stockton Stockton, CA $813.80 $54.64 – $544.48
St. Michael Medical Center Silverdale, WA $815.34 $849.94 – $1,662.65
Mary Immaculate Hospital Newport News, VA $820.20 not published
Maryview Hospital Portsmouth, VA $820.20 not published
Harbour View Medical Center Suffolk, VA $820.20 not published
Baptist Hospital MIAMI, FL $824.85 $35.25 – $1,142.10
Bethesda Hospital East BOYNTON BEACH, FL $824.85 $35.25 – $1,142.10
Doctors Hospital CORAL GABLES, FL $824.85 $34.17 – $1,142.10
Fishermens Community Hospital MARATHON, FL $824.85 $34.17 – $1,142.10
Homestead Hospital HOMESTEAD, FL $824.85 $34.17 – $1,142.10
Mariners Hospital TAVERNIER, FL $824.85 $34.17 – $1,142.10
West Kendall Baptist Hospital MIAMI, FL $824.85 $34.17 – $1,142.10
Baptist Health Hospital Doral SOUTH MIAMI, FL $824.85 $34.17 – $1,142.10
Sunnyside Medical Center CLACKAMAS, OR $826.20 $294.00 – $294.00
Westside Medical Center HILLSBORO, OR $826.20 $294.00 – $294.00
Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital IL 60190, IL $828.10 not published
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital DBA Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital Lake Forest, IL $828.10 not published
Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Geneva, IL $828.10 not published
Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital DeKalb, IL $828.10 not published
Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital Wheaton, IL $828.10 not published
Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital Palos Heights, IL $828.10 not published
Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital McHenry, IL $828.10 not published
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL $828.10 not published
UPMC East Monroeville, PA $832.80 $41.25 – $1,110.40
Adventhealth Central Texas Killeen, TX $838.31 $176.20 – $701.55
Sanford USD Medical Center Sioux Falls, SD $841.60 $81.44 – $946.80
SPOTSYLVANIA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER Fredericksburg, VA $853.84 $71.66 – $423.26
UPMC Wellsboro Wellsboro, PA $862.40 $28.80 – $161.24
WellSpan Evangelical Community Hospital Lewisburg, PA $869.80 $41.25 – $1,006.60
UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA $873.00 $41.25 – $186.69
Love County Health Center Marietta, OK $876.00 $57.74 – $57.74
MaineHealth - Memorial Hospital North Conway, NH $876.85 $27.25 – $457.93
STONECREST MEDICAL CENTER Smyrna, TN $882.80 $43.00 – $341.20
Providence St Mary Medical Center Walla Walla, WA $887.60 $162.81 – $361.60
St. Luke's Health - Patients Medical Center Pasadena, TX $887.95 $92.68 – $1,902.75
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Centralia Centralia, IL $894.85 $187.96 – $197.36
SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital - Mt. Vernon Mount Vernon, IL $894.85 $187.96 – $197.36
OVIEDO MEDICAL CENTER Oviedo, FL $902.70 $401.74 – $804.20
UPMC Magee Pittsburgh, PA $903.60 $41.25 – $183.30
MultiCare Valley Hospital Spokane Valley, WA $904.40 $38.84 – $802.51
MultiCare Deaconess Hospital Spokane, WA $904.40 $39.12 – $804.32
St. Luke's Health - Brazosport Hospital Lake Jackson, TX $905.71 $87.72 – $1,293.87
AdventHealth Polk Columbus, NC $907.31 not published
Redwood Memorial Hospital Fortuna, CA $912.90 $373.08 – $373.08
Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Grass Valley, CA $918.33 $54.64 – $474.32
AdventHealth Deland Deland, FL $932.35 $163.78 – $365.29
Providence Centralia Hospital Centralia, WA $935.48 $203.11 – $1,135.23
Providence St Peter Hospital Olympia, WA $935.48 $171.47 – $1,020.43
Emory Hospital Perry Perry, GA $938.00 $101.92 – $455.55
Emory Hospital Warner Robins Warner Robins, GA $938.00 $101.92 – $455.55

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