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
Providence Mount Carmel Hospital Colville, WA $413.00 not published
The Unity Hospital of Rochester Rochester, NY $414.21 $122.97 – $122.97
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL $415.00 $220.00 – $664.00
Advocate Sherman Hospital Elgin, IL $415.00 $174.00 – $747.00
Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, IL $415.00 $220.00 – $808.42
Advocate Trinity Hospital Chicago, IL $415.00 $220.00 – $664.00
Advocate Childrens Hospital - Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL $415.00 $220.00 – $664.00
Advocate Christ Medical Center Oak Lawn, IL $415.00 $220.00 – $664.00
Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL $415.00 $195.00 – $664.00
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Downers Grove, IL $415.00 $220.00 – $664.00
Sanford Medical Center Bismarck Bismarck, ND $415.20 $97.20 – $467.10
MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton, IA $415.35 $161.52 – $639.00
MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque, IA $415.58 $157.36 – $624.00
Berkeley Medical Center Martinsburg, WV $418.50 $21.36 – $295.42
Ascension St. Vincent's St. Johns County (St. Vincent's Health System, Inc.) Saint Johns, FL $419.77 $175.12 – $393.89
Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside (St. Vincent's Medical Center, Inc.) Jacksonville, FL $419.77 $173.33 – $393.89
Ascension St. Vincent's Clay County (St. Vincent's Medical Center, Inc.) Middleburg, FL $419.77 $173.33 – $393.89
St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center Phoenix, AZ $420.59 $102.28 – $774.20
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson City Jefferson City, MO $422.95 $115.54 – $316.23
Swedish Medical Center Cherry Hill Seattle, WA $424.80 $203.11 – $829.10
Swedish Medical Center - First Hill Campus Seattle, WA $424.80 $203.11 – $856.43
Swedish Issaquah Issaquah, WA $424.80 $203.68 – $856.43
Atrium Health Anson Wadesboro, NC $425.03 $19.05 – $807.55
Atrium Health Mercy Charlotte, NC $425.03 $19.05 – $782.05
Atrium Health Pineville Charlotte, NC $425.03 $19.05 – $782.05
Atrium Health Stanly Albermarle, NC $425.03 $19.05 – $816.05
Atrium Health Behavioral Health Charlotte Charlotte, NC $425.03 $19.24 – $748.04
Atrium Health Cleveland Shelby, NC $425.03 $19.05 – $807.55
Atrium Health Cabarrus Concord, NC $425.03 $19.05 – $807.55
Atrium Health Lincoln Lincolnton, NC $425.03 $19.05 – $807.55
Atrium Health Union Monroe, NC $425.03 $19.05 – $807.55
Carolinas Rehabilitation Charlotte Charlotte, NC $425.03 $19.24 – $782.05
Atrium Health University City Charlotte, NC $425.03 $19.05 – $782.05
Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte, NC $425.03 $19.05 – $765.05
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance Fort Worth, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $107.32
Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital Arlington, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $107.32
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen Allen, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $105.36
Texas Health Center for Diagnostics and Surgery Plano Plano, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $105.36
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton Denton, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $107.32
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Flower Mound Flower Mound, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $107.32
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas Dallas, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $105.36
Texas Health Hospital Frisco Frisco, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $105.36
Texas Health Heart & Vascular Hospital Arlington Arlington, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $107.32
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman Kaufman, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $105.36
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford Bedford, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $107.32
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano Plano, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $105.36
Texas Health Hospital Rockwall Rockwall, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $105.36
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southlake Southlake, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $107.32
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth Fort Worth, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $107.32
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth Fort Worth, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $107.32

Related imaging procedures