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
62-1519754 BMH Golden Triangle Columbus, MS $150.00 $156.32 – $455.92
Banner University Medical Center Phoenix Phoenix, AZ $150.59 $108.27 – $400.50
Banner University Medical Center South Tucson, AZ $150.92 $129.45 – $392.00
SONORA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL Sonora, CA $150.96 $3.36 – $289.50
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset Somerville, NJ $151.08 $45.92 – $387.15
Henry Ford St John Hospital Detroit, MI $151.76 $52.96 – $331.40
Banner Baywood Medical Center Mesa, AZ $153.79 $129.45 – $400.50
45-2896080 MBMC Leake Carthage, MS $153.90 $155.78 – $158.90
CHI St. Vincent Morrilton Morrilton, AR $154.35 $81.72 – $161.12
Ascension St. Francis Hospital, Inc. Milwaukee, WI $156.88 $79.04 – $401.74
Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital - St. Joseph Campus Milwaukee, WI $156.88 $79.04 – $401.74
Ascension Saint Thomas River Park McMinnville, TN $157.13 $42.49 – $291.55
Banner Gateway Medical Center Gilbert, AZ $158.60 $129.45 – $400.50
TWIN CITIES COMMUNITY HOSPITAL Templeton, CA $163.94 $225.20 – $3,044.60
Ascension Saint Thomas Highlands Sparta, TN $165.00 $33.33 – $291.55
Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Smithville, TN $165.00 $33.33 – $291.55
Banner Ocotillo Medical Center Chandler, AZ $165.54 $129.45 – $400.50
62-1166050 BMH Carroll County Huntingdon, TN $165.60 $33.33 – $325.10
64-0663760 BMH Booneville Booneville, MS $171.36 $152.23 – $444.00
Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Murfreesboro, TN $173.00 $33.33 – $291.55
Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown Nashville, TN $173.00 $33.33 – $291.55
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Glenoaks Glendale Heights, IL $175.00 $102.44 – $304.50
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Hinsdale Hinsdale, IL $175.00 $102.44 – $304.50
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth La Grange La Grange, IL $175.00 $102.44 – $304.50
Uchicago Medicine Adventhealth Bolingbrook Bolingbrook, IL $175.00 $102.44 – $304.50
39-3714515 BMH Oktibbeha County STARKVILLE, MS $175.04 $94.32 – $360.95
Clara Maass Medical Center Belleville, NJ $177.81 $45.92 – $397.44
CASTLE MEDICAL CENTER Kailua, HI $182.08 $39.30 – $995.75
SIERRA VISTA HOSPITAL, INC. San Luis Obispo, CA $182.61 $225.20 – $2,637.70
LODI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION INC Lodi, CA $185.78 $26.56 – $462.69
CHRISTUS St. Francis Cabrini Hospital Alexandria, LA $185.90 $165.95 – $736.86
UPMC Bedford Everett, PA $186.00 $39.38 – $279.00
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Newark, NJ $187.67 $45.92 – $399.44
Banner Fort Collins Medical Center Fort Collins, CO $188.60 $106.00 – $429.38
UnityPoint Health - Allen Hospital Waterloo, IA $190.40 $26.35 – $147.55
UnityPoint Health - Marshalltown Marshalltown, IA $190.40 $26.35 – $173.23
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center Livingston, NJ $190.92 $45.92 – $399.44
St. Joseph Health Grimes Hospital Navasota, TX $191.80 $179.00 – $1,216.56
St. Joseph Health Burleson Hospital Caldwell, TX $191.80 $179.00 – $986.40
St. Joseph Health Madison Hospital Madisonville, TX $191.80 $139.64 – $986.40
St. Joseph Health College Station Hospital College Station, TX $191.80 $97.56 – $931.60
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick, NJ $192.18 $45.92 – $433.78
Henry Ford Madison Heights Hospital Madison Heights, MI $192.64 $52.96 – $122.55
Henry Ford Warren Hospital Warren, MI $192.64 $52.96 – $331.40
Ocean University Medical Center Brick, NJ $194.55 $89.00 – $259.11
Southern Ocean Medical Center Manahawkin, NJ $194.55 $89.00 – $259.11
Sterling Regional Medical Center Sterling, CO $196.65 $121.92 – $423.89
Bayshore Medical Center Holmdel, NJ $197.04 $89.00 – $483.42
Jersey Shore University Medical Center Neptune City, NJ $197.04 $89.00 – $259.11
Riverview Medical Center Red Bank, NJ $197.04 $39.20 – $483.42

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