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
NewYork-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York, NY $1,100.00 $61.00 – $263.31
Adventhealth Tampa Tampa, FL $1,102.75 $136.01 – $429.66
Adventhealth Riverview Riverview, FL $1,102.75 $238.49 – $238.49
Adventhealth Wesley Chapel Wesley Chapel, FL $1,102.75 $136.01 – $429.66
Adventhealth Zephyrhills Zephyrhills, FL $1,102.75 $136.01 – $530.75
Adventhealth Carrollwood Tampa, FL $1,102.75 $136.01 – $429.66
Providence St Joseph Hospital Eureka Eureka, CA $1,105.68 $225.59 – $372.22
Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center Kodiak, AK $1,114.62 not published
OSF Holy Family Medical Center Monmouth, IL $1,140.00 not published
cleveland clinic florida weston hospital Weston, FL $1,153.75 $19.18 – $1,304.75
AdventHealth Orlando Orlando, FL $1,175.00 $158.99 – $485.39
Adventhealth Palm Coast Palm Coast, FL $1,182.30 $151.33 – $391.23
Adventhealth Palm Coast Parkway Palm Coast, FL $1,182.30 $151.33 – $631.85
SOUTHERN HILLS MEDICAL CENTER ANTIOCH, TN $1,223.73 $52.99 – $341.20
St Mary's Hospital Richmond, VA $1,231.80 not published
St Francis Medical Center Midlothian, VA $1,231.80 not published
Memorial Regional Hospital Mechanicsville, VA $1,231.80 not published
Richmond Community Hospital Richmond, VA $1,231.80 not published
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX $1,249.00 $176.20 – $343.59
Houston Methodist West Hospital Houston, TX $1,249.00 $176.20 – $704.80
Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital Baytown, TX $1,249.00 $176.20 – $343.59
Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital Houston, TX $1,249.00 $176.20 – $343.59
Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital Nassau Bay, TX $1,249.00 $176.20 – $343.59
Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital The Woodlands, TX $1,249.00 $176.20 – $352.40
Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital Katy, TX $1,249.00 $267.92 – $267.92
Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital Cypress, TX $1,249.00 $176.20 – $343.59
St Anne Hospital Toledo, OH $1,260.00 not published
Pen Bay Medical Center Rockport, ME $1,272.50 $27.52 – $684.77
Mid Coast Hospital Brunswick, ME $1,272.50 $27.25 – $898.39
Mark Twain Medical Center San Andreas, CA $1,284.72 $54.64 – $632.10
UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA $1,312.80 $27.00 – $203.15
GREENVIEW REGIONAL HOSPITAL BOWLING GREEN, KY $1,372.76 $64.40 – $401.74
Providence Holy Family Hospital Spokane, WA $1,413.30 $195.46 – $629.28
HENDERSONVILLE MEDICAL CENTER HENDERSONVILLE, TN $1,419.34 $52.33 – $341.20
Adventhealth Waterman Tavares, FL $1,421.78 $137.92 – $631.85
MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster, SC $1,467.50 $104.60 – $187.49
LAFAYETTE REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER Lexington, MO $1,472.72 $101.17 – $158.49
MEDICAL CITY NORTH HILLS HOSPITAL North Richland Hills, TX $1,503.52 $97.56 – $274.79
HCA FLORIDA AVENTURA HOSPITAL HIALEAH, FL $1,542.00 $303.54 – $875.46
MEDICAL CITY WEATHERFORD HOSPITAL Weatherford, TX $1,550.22 $97.56 – $274.79
Baptist Health Floyd New Albany, IN $1,555.49 $48.47 – $3,110.99
Baptist Health Hardin Elizabethtown, KY $1,555.49 $178.02 – $4,147.98
Baptist Health Corbin Corbin, KY $1,555.49 $2,073.99 – $4,147.98
Baptist Health La Grange La Grange, KY $1,555.49 $214.05 – $4,147.98
Baptist Health Lexington Lexington, KY $1,555.49 $178.02 – $4,216.42
Baptist Health Louisville Louisville, KY $1,555.49 $87.33 – $4,147.98
Baptist Health Paducah Paducah, KY $1,555.49 $178.02 – $4,147.98
HCA FLORIDA NORTHWEST HOSPITAL MARGATE, FL $1,563.00 $303.54 – $882.69
MEDICAL CITY DALLAS HOSPITAL Dallas, TX $1,573.89 $96.10 – $274.79
Adventhealth North Pinellas Tarpon Springs, FL $1,594.63 $136.01 – $406.63

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