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 Hudson Valley Hospital Cortlandt Manor, NY $1,614.00 $66.29 – $263.31
CJW Medical Center-Chippenham Hospital Campus CHESTERFIELD, VA $1,648.00 $85.27 – $449.49
HENRICO DOCTORS HOSPITAL RICHMOND, VA $1,648.00 $88.46 – $449.49
TRICITIES HOSPITAL HOPEWELL, VA $1,648.00 $77.07 – $449.49
MEDICAL CITY ARGYLE HOSPITAL Argyle, TX $1,648.97 $96.10 – $274.79
Adventhealth Connerton Land O Lakes, FL $1,670.28 not published
Adventhealth Port Charlotte Port Charlotte, FL $1,672.90 $142.14 – $334.46
LIVE OAK MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS Ladson, SC $1,705.00 $60.69 – $311.54
HCA HEALTHCARE BRIGHTON PARK ER MONCKS CORNER, SC $1,705.00 $58.36 – $311.54
AdventHealth Parker Parker, CO $1,763.36 $124.74 – $342.30
AdventHealth Littleton Littleton, CO $1,763.36 $124.74 – $342.30
AdventHealth Porter Denver, CO $1,763.36 $124.74 – $342.30
AdventHealth Avista Louisville, CO $1,763.36 $124.74 – $346.10
AdventHealth Castle Rock Castle Rock, CO $1,763.36 $124.74 – $342.30
LEWISGALE HOSPITAL-MONTGOMERY CHRISTIANSBURG, VA $1,869.00 $117.81 – $401.74
MEDICAL CITY ALLIANCE HOSPITAL SAGINAW, TX $1,928.97 $97.56 – $274.79
Adventhealth Dade City Dade City, FL $1,954.01 $183.17 – $415.19
Adventhealth Sebring Sebring, FL $1,963.38 $187.75 – $416.27
HCA FLORIDA KENDALL HOSPITAL DORAL, FL $1,968.00 $303.54 – $875.46
SUMMIT MEDICAL CENTER MT JULIET, TN $1,983.27 $47.66 – $341.20
HCA FLORIDA LARGO HOSPITAL LARGO, FL $2,059.88 $401.74 – $815.08
HCA FLORIDA PALMS WEST HOSPITAL LOXAHATCHEE, FL $2,060.00 $303.54 – $843.05
SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Midwest Midwest City, OK $2,064.36 $99.63 – $361.01
LEWISGALE MEDICAL CENTER ROANOKE, VA $2,070.00 $127.11 – $401.74
MEDICAL CITY FORT WORTH HOSPITAL FT WORTH, TX $2,088.22 $97.56 – $285.69
MENORAH MEDICAL CENTER Overland Park, KS $2,246.90 $76.36 – $216.87
HCA HealthONE SOUTH PARKER ER, A PART OF SKY RIDGE PARKER, CO $2,247.00 $69.35 – $836.62
HCA FLORIDA MERCY HOSPITAL MIAMI, FL $2,280.00 $303.54 – $875.46
HCA FLORIDA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL Davie, FL $2,331.00 $303.54 – $882.69
HCA FLORIDA GULF COAST HOSPITAL PANAMA CITY, FL $2,457.05 $401.74 – $771.17
LEWISGALE HOSPITAL-PULASKI PULASKI, VA $2,462.00 $97.73 – $401.74
HCA FLORIDA SARASOTA DOCTORS HOSPITAL VENICE, FL $2,507.60 $401.74 – $815.08
HCA FLORIDA BLAKE HOSPITAL BRADENTON, FL $2,566.56 $401.74 – $815.08
LEE'S SUMMIT MEDICAL CENTER Lee's Summit, MO $2,640.38 $76.36 – $216.87
HCA HOUSTON SOUTHEAST PASADENA, TX $2,869.99 $95.61 – $597.58
HCA FLORIDA CAPITAL HOSPITAL TALLAHASSEE, FL $2,930.25 $401.74 – $770.11
HCA FLORIDA LAKE CITY HOSPITAL LIVE OAK, FL $2,939.75 $401.74 – $778.95
HCA FLORIDA OAK HILL HOSPITAL BROOKSVILLE, FL $3,096.39 $401.74 – $815.08
HCA FLORIDA PUTNAM HOSPITAL Palatka, FL $3,124.50 $401.74 – $778.95
HCA FLORIDA TRINITY HOSPITAL TRINITY, FL $3,320.22 $401.74 – $815.08
HCA HealthONE MOUNTAIN RIDGE Thornton, CO $3,568.64 $64.56 – $401.74
HCA FLORIDA ST. LUCIE HOSPITAL STUART, FL $3,669.00 $303.54 – $836.62
Adventhealth Redmond Rome, GA $3,739.73 $117.92 – $506.78
HCA FLORIDA PASADENA HOSPITAL South Pasadena, FL $3,801.86 $401.74 – $815.08
HCA HOUSTON KINGWOOD HUMBLE, TX $3,920.31 $95.61 – $597.58
HCA HOUSTON TOMBALL HOUSTON, TX $3,989.02 $97.56 – $597.58
HCA HOUSTON MEDICAL CENTER Houston, TX $4,121.72 $97.56 – $597.58
HCA FLORIDA ST. PETERSBURG HOSPITAL NORTH, FL $4,182.05 $401.74 – $815.08
HCA HOUSTON PEARLAND Pearland, TX $4,187.89 $97.56 – $597.58
HCA HOUSTON NORTHWEST SPRING, TX $4,222.67 $97.56 – $597.58

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