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
Monmouth Medical Center Long Branch, NJ $239.36 $45.92 – $392.11
Henry Ford Hospital Detroit MI 48202 | 19401 Hubbard Dr., MI $241.18 $17.68 – $320.26
Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital West Bloomfield, MI $241.18 $17.68 – $401.97
Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital: Wyandotte, MI $241.18 $17.68 – $320.26
Henry Ford Macomb Hospital Clinton Twp, MI $241.18 $17.68 – $401.97
Summersville Regional Medical Center Summersville, WV $241.50 not published
Mercy Orthopedic Hospital Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR $245.05 $36.00 – $410.00
UPMC Cole Coudersport, PA $249.00 $39.38 – $332.00
Wamego Health Center (Wamego Hospital Association) Wamego, KS $252.40 $23.60 – $373.83
UPMC Northwest Seneca, PA $253.20 $41.25 – $178.21
SSM Health DePaul Hospital - St. Louis Bridgeton, MO $254.10 $65.25 – $210.82
SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital- Wentzville Wentzville, MO $254.10 $65.25 – $357.10
SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton Fenton, MO $254.10 $65.25 – $210.82
SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - St. Charles Saint Charles, MO $254.10 $65.25 – $210.82
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - St. Louis Richmond Heights, MO $254.10 $65.25 – $210.82
SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - Lake Saint Louis Lake Saint Louis, MO $254.10 $65.25 – $210.82
St. Mary Medical Center Long Beach, CA $254.13 $49.18 – $580.00
Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Ozaukee Campus (Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Milwaukee, Inc.) Mequon, WI $256.52 $47.33 – $401.74
Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Milwaukee Campus (Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Milwaukee, Inc.) Milwaukee, WI $256.52 $47.33 – $401.74
Arizona General Hospital Laveen Phoenix, AZ $256.71 $102.28 – $915.86
UKIAH ADVENTIST HOSPITAL Ukiah, CA $257.20 $28.27 – $429.07
Ascension Providence Waco, TX $257.40 $83.54 – $446.44
New Ulm Medical Center MN 56073, MN $257.66 $90.73 – $376.27
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus Lakewood, NJ $260.04 $45.92 – $387.15
26-1214372 NEA Baptist Jonesboro, AR $263.91 $36.00 – $328.08
WILLITS HOSPITAL INC Willits, CA $266.70 $3.36 – $123.45
SIMI VALLEY HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE SERVICES Simi Valley, CA $268.48 $67.20 – $1,191.26
Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital Novi, MI $269.92 $52.96 – $240.70
SSM Health Monroe Hospital Monroe, WI $270.60 $170.37 – $172.81
MUSC Health Black River Medical Center Cades, SC $272.50 $98.08 – $179.45
ADVENTIST HEALTH CLEARLAKE HOSPITAL Clearlake, CA $272.52 $54.64 – $1,249.05
ST HELENA HOSPITAL Vallejo, CA $273.15 $3.36 – $275.65
Barnesville Hospital Barnesville, OH $273.50 not published
SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital Saint Louis, MO $275.00 $74.92 – $226.76
Banner Churchill Community Hospital Fallon, NV $275.50 $133.64 – $493.44
SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital - Fond du Lac Fond Du Lac, WI $276.65 $130.12 – $334.84
SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital Waupun, WI $276.65 $216.96 – $216.96
SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital Ripon, WI $276.65 $216.96 – $216.96
Arizona General Hospital Mesa Mesa, AZ $276.89 $102.28 – $915.86
Grant Memorial Hospital Petersburg, WV $280.80 not published
PORTLAND ADVENTIST MEDICAL CENTER Portland, OR $288.96 $81.68 – $1,625.40
East Morgan County Hospital Brush, CO $290.17 $26.13 – $60.14
UPMC Chautauqua Jamestown, NY $291.00 $46.88 – $545.49
MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport, IA $294.00 $170.40 – $238.57
St. Joseph's Hospital Buckhannon, WV $294.50 not published
Ascension Seton Northwest (Ascension Seton) Austin, TX $298.98 $67.53 – $737.99
Ascension Seton Smithville (Ascension Seton) Smithville, TX $298.98 $67.53 – $737.99
Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas (Ascension Seton) Austin, TX $298.98 $67.53 – $737.99
Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin (Ascension Seton) Austin, TX $298.98 $67.53 – $737.99
UPMC Altoona Altoona, PA $302.40 $22.50 – $403.20

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