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
Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital Grand Rapids, MI $356.00 $119.52 – $314.59
Corewell Health Blodgett Hospital East Grand Rapids, MI $356.00 $119.52 – $314.59
MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines, IA $356.85 $110.35 – $549.00
CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs, IA $358.68 $128.10 – $725.90
CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center - Bergan Mercy Omaha, NE $358.68 $130.73 – $725.90
Lasting Hope Recovery Center Omaha, NE $358.68 $145.18 – $725.90
CHI Health Immanuel Omaha, NE $358.68 $119.56 – $725.90
CHI Health Lakeside Omaha, NE $358.68 $130.73 – $725.90
CHI Health Midlands Papillion, NE $358.68 $130.73 – $725.90
Providence Regional Medical Center Everett - Colby Campus Everett, WA $359.32 $199.75 – $765.32
United Hospital Center Bridgeport, WV $360.00 $21.36 – $316.44
Mercy Hospital Carthage Carthage, MO $365.30 $57.74 – $244.94
Jefferson Medical Center Ranson, WV $366.00 not published
Morrow County Hospital Mount Gilead, OH $368.29 $69.78 – $115.13
SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo Baraboo, WI $369.05 $127.78 – $704.53
MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City, IA $369.20 $145.41 – $568.00
SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Shawnee Shawnee, OK $369.60 $99.63 – $400.55
Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago (Presence Chicago Hospital Network) Chicago, IL $377.52 $76.85 – $640.46
CHI Health Plainview Plainview, NE $378.84 $275.11 – $610.75
Mercy General Hospital Sacramento, CA $379.76 $54.64 – $1,393.60
CHI Saint Joseph Health - Saint Joseph East Lexington, KY $380.79 $186.49 – $862.68
Covenant Hospital Plainview Plainview, TX $380.94 $170.91 – $185.89
Princeton Community Hospital Princeton, WV $381.00 $21.36 – $1,044.47
UnityPoint Health - Finley Hospital Dubuque, IA $381.01 $26.35 – $381.01
CHI Saint Joseph Health - Saint Joseph Mount Sterling Mt. Sterling, KY $382.24 $174.56 – $758.94
UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's Hospital Cedar Rapids, IA $382.95 $26.35 – $179.51
CHI Health Schuyler Schuyler, NE $383.35 $96.61 – $510.63
California Hospital Medical Center Los Angeles, CA $383.64 $49.18 – $646.54
MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital Yakima, WA $384.00 $209.25 – $571.85
Providence Little Co of Mary Med Center San Pedro San Pedro, CA $384.30 $104.64 – $660.47
Providence Little Company of Mary Med Center Torrance Torrance, CA $384.30 $157.22 – $628.81
Providence St Joseph Medical Center Polson, MT $386.40 $588.44 – $588.44
OSF Healthcare Divine Mercy Continuing Care Hospital Peoria, IL $387.00 not published
CHI Saint Joseph Health - Saint Joseph London London, KY $387.17 $154.94 – $987.35
CHI Memorial Hospital - Georgia Ringgold, GA $390.13 $110.74 – $1,067.58
CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson Hixson, TN $390.13 $49.61 – $922.60
Reynolds Memorial Hospital Glen Dale, WV $392.00 $21.36 – $293.00
Mercy Hospital Berryville Berryville, AR $392.60 $36.00 – $364.44
Camden Clark Medical Center Parkersburg, WV $394.00 $21.36 – $293.00
ADVENTIST HEALTH MENDOCINO COAST Fort Bragg, CA $396.00 $23.39 – $260.54
SAN JOAQUIN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL Bakersfield, CA $398.10 $3.36 – $388.02
UPMC Horizon-Greenville Greenville, PA $400.80 $41.25 – $183.30
UnityPoint Health - St. Lukes Downtown Sioux City, IA $403.15 $17.16 – $291.27
Adventhealth Ocala Ocala, FL $403.67 $137.92 – $429.66
UPMC Hamot Erie, PA $407.40 $41.25 – $270.53
MUSC Health Kershaw Medical Center Camden, SC $408.50 $78.55 – $186.50
Rappahannock General Hospital Kilmarnock, VA $409.20 not published
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center Gilbert, AZ $410.82 $102.28 – $1,285.90
Canton-Potsdam Hospital Potsdam, NY $410.88 $20.20 – $66.21
Providence St Joseph Hospital Chewelah, WA $413.00 not published

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