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
Petaluma Valley Hospital Petaluma, CA $303.45 $236.37 – $291.55
Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center Tarzana, CA $305.20 $104.64 – $612.97
Potomac Valley Hospital Keyser, WV $305.50 not published
Massena Hospital Massena, NY $307.48 not published
Community Hospital Torrington, WY $307.65 $192.28 – $423.89
WHITE MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER MONTEBELLO, CA $309.06 $28.36 – $2,627.01
St Elias Specialty Hospital Anchorage, AK $309.12 $170.91 – $498.37
Covenant Hospital Levelland Levelland, TX $311.22 $170.91 – $185.89
St Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital Youngstown, OH $311.40 not published
St Elizabeth Boardman Hospital Youngstown, OH $311.40 not published
St Joseph Warren Hospital Warren, OH $311.40 not published
Ogallala Community Hospital Ogallala, NE $313.77 $192.28 – $423.89
UnityPoint Health - Jones Regional Medical Center Anamosa, IA $318.37 $26.35 – $352.99
Corewell Health Pennock Hastings, MI $320.00 not published
Corewell Health Big Rapids Big Rapids, MI $320.00 $174.77 – $314.59
Corewell Health Gerber Fremont, MI $320.00 not published
Corewell Health Reed City Po Box 75, MI $320.00 not published
Corewell Health Greenville Greenville, MI $320.00 $174.77 – $314.59
Corewell Health Zeeland Zeeland, MI $320.00 $174.77 – $314.59
UPMC Western Maryland Cumberland, MD $321.60 $536.00 – $536.00
MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center Davenport, IA $321.60 $170.40 – $238.57
MercyOne Genesis Silvis Medical Center Silvis, IL $321.60 $54.71 – $493.12
MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center DeWitt, IA $321.60 $182.24 – $391.28
MercyOne Genesis Aledo Medical Center Aledo, IL $321.60 $148.16 – $251.92
UnityPoint Health - Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge, IA $323.99 $26.35 – $344.23
MUSC Health Chester Medical Center Chester, SC $325.50 $104.60 – $186.50
Southampton Medical Center Franklin, VA $328.80 not published
Platte County Hospital Wheatland, WY $330.81 $209.76 – $423.89
CHI Saint Joseph Health - Saint Joseph Berea Berea, KY $334.55 $191.48 – $631.54
Washakie Medical Center Worland, WY $334.74 $29.76 – $60.14
Rochester General Hospital Rochester, NY $336.54 $98.37 – $98.37
Newark Wayne Community Hospital Newark, NY $336.54 $63.06 – $131.40
Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic Clifton Springs, NY $336.54 $54.23 – $75.36
Kettering Health Main Campus (Kettering) Kettering, OH $337.20 $147.54 – $556.96
Kettering Health Miamisburg (Sycamore) Miamisburg, OH $337.20 $147.54 – $556.96
Kettering Health Dayton (Grandview) Dayton, OH $337.20 $147.54 – $556.96
Soin Medical Center Beaver Creek, OH $337.20 $147.54 – $556.96
Kettering Health Greene Memorial Xenia, OH $337.20 $147.54 – $556.96
Kettering Health Hamilton (Fort Hamilton) Hamilton, OH $337.20 $147.54 – $556.96
Kettering Health Troy Troy, OH $337.20 $147.54 – $556.96
MercyOne Newton Medical Center Newton, IA $338.00 $166.03 – $520.00
Grady Memorial Hospital Delaware, OH $346.45 $169.13 – $175.89
Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf (Sacred Heart Health System, Inc.) Joe, FL $348.40 $191.38 – $393.89
UPMC Kane Kane, PA $349.20 $41.25 – $290.60
Tug Valley ARH Regional Medical Center Williamson, KY $351.00 $102.92 – $102.92
St. Bernardine Medical Center San Bernardino, CA $351.65 $54.64 – $934.85
Riverside Methodist Hospital Columbus, OH $353.60 $169.13 – $169.13
Dublin Methodist Hospital Dublin, OH $353.60 $169.13 – $169.13
Grant Medical Center Columbus, OH $353.60 $169.13 – $169.13
Doctors Hospital Columbus, OH $353.60 $172.82 – $172.82

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