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
Adventhealth Hendersonville Hendersonville, NC $939.00 $167.65 – $418.63
HSHS St. Mary's Hospital DECATUR, IL $940.32 $25.55 – $1,306.00
St. Elizabeth Community Hospital Red Bluff, CA $946.08 $78.14 – $1,587.60
cleveland clinic main campus Cleveland, OH $954.20 $1.10 – $1,105.20
Covenant Medical Center Lubbock, TX $966.42 $176.20 – $794.48
Covenant Children's Hospital Lubbock, TX $966.42 $547.23 – $794.48
Covenant Specialty Hospital Lubbock, TX $966.42 not published
Providence Alaska Medical Center Anchorage, AK $967.20 $784.36 – $788.00
STONESPRINGS HOSPITAL CENTER Dulles, VA $967.51 $107.49 – $401.74
Southside Regional Medical Center Petersburg, VA $970.20 not published
Adventhealth Shawnee Mission Shawnee Mission, KS $976.84 $109.97 – $481.58
Adventhealth South Overland Park Overland Park, KS $976.84 $109.97 – $481.58
Adventhealth Ottawa Ottawa, KS $976.84 $109.97 – $321.39
Marcum Wallace Hospital Irvine, KY $985.80 not published
OSF St Francis Hospital Escanaba, MI $994.40 not published
martin north hospital Stuart, FL $997.75 $17.16 – $767.50
indian river hospital Vero Beach, FL $997.75 $20.52 – $1,228.00
St. Luke's Health - The Vintage Hospital Houston, TX $1,021.30 $97.56 – $2,918.00
Baylor St Luke's Medical Center Houston, TX $1,021.30 $97.56 – $2,918.00
St. Luke's Health - Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX $1,021.30 $97.56 – $2,918.00
St. Luke's Health - Springwoods Village Hospital Spring, TX $1,021.30 $97.56 – $2,918.00
St. Luke's Health - Lakeside Hospital The Woodlands, TX $1,021.30 $97.56 – $2,918.00
Yavapai Regional Medical Center (East) Prescott, AZ $1,026.93 $52.70 – $107.40
Redwood City Medical Center Redwood City, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
Oakland Medical Center Oakland, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
Sacramento Medical Center SACRAMENTO, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
San Leandro Medical Center SAN LEANDRO, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
Santa Clara Medical Center SANTA CLARA, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
San Rafael Medical Center SAN RAFAEL, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
Santa Rosa Medical Center SANTA ROSA, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
South San Francisco Medical Center SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
South Sacramento Medical Center SACRAMENTO, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
Vacaville Medical Center VACAVILLE, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
Walnut Creek Medical Center WALNUT CREEK, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
Vallejo Medical Center VALLEJO, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
Antioch Medical Center ANTIOCH, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
Fremont Medical Center FREMONT, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
Fresno Medical Center FRESNO, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
Roseville Medical Center ROSEVILLE, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
San Jose Medical Center SAN JOSE, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
San Francisco Medical Center SAN FRANCISCO, CA $1,047.20 $238.00 – $238.00
MEDICAL CITY FRISCO HOSPITAL Frisco, TX $1,047.95 $97.56 – $285.69
Mercy Medical Center Redding Redding, CA $1,060.65 $86.88 – $2,050.16
LEWISGALE HOSPITAL-ALLEGHANY LOW MOOR, VA $1,063.00 $144.61 – $401.74
Queen of The Valley Medical Center Napa, CA $1,076.10 $249.04 – $328.23
UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital Madison, WI $1,079.10 $26.54 – $447.82
NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Flushing, NY $1,084.00 $61.00 – $221.18
Mercy Medical Center Merced Merced, CA $1,084.59 $54.64 – $495.38
Adventhealth Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, FL $1,090.75 $167.61 – $305.71
NORTHCREST MEDICAL CENTER SPRINGFIELD, TN $1,096.61 $61.66 – $341.20

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