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
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville Stephenville, TX $425.55 $220.58 – $238.23
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne Cleburne, TX $425.55 $97.56 – $107.32
UPMC Community Osteopathic Harrisburg, PA $427.80 $29.48 – $606.05
UPMC Hanover Hanover, PA $427.80 $29.48 – $272.10
UPMC Lititz Lititz, PA $427.80 $29.48 – $273.57
UPMC Memorial York, PA $427.80 $29.48 – $379.51
UPMC Somerset Somerset, PA $427.80 $25.88 – $169.72
St Francis Downtown Greenville, SC $427.80 not published
St Francis Eastside Greenville, SC $427.80 not published
UPMC Carlisle Carlisle, PA $427.80 $29.48 – $606.05
Community Hospital San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA $428.93 $54.64 – $1,053.00
Parkview Montpelier Hospital Montpelier, OH $430.00 not published
Parkview Bryan Hospital Bryan, OH $430.00 $174.50 – $523.50
Banner Page Hospital Page, AZ $430.84 $26.12 – $354.57
UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell, IA $431.53 $26.35 – $217.38
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital Saint Louis, MO $432.85 $63.74 – $321.39
Mercy Hospital Lincoln Troy, MO $433.55 $168.62 – $233.71
UnityPoint Health - Trinity Bettendorf Bettendorf, IA $434.76 $26.35 – $213.03
UnityPoint Health - Trinity Moline Rock Island, IL $434.76 $26.35 – $239.66
UnityPoint Health - Trinity Muscatine Muscatine, IA $434.76 $26.35 – $222.81
Mercy Hospital Aurora Aurora, MO $436.15 $36.00 – $233.71
Sentara Albemarle Regional Medical Center Elizabeth City, NC $436.50 $167.65 – $171.01
Berger Hospital Circleville, OH $438.75 $167.15 – $167.15
Banner Lassen Medical Center Susanville, CA $438.86 $35.60 – $648.93
Ascension Via Christi Hospital Manhattan, Inc Manhattan, KS $440.80 $23.60 – $460.99
West Virginia University Hospitals Morgantown, WV $442.50 $21.36 – $715.25
Methodist Charlton Medical Center Dallas, TX $442.50 $92.68 – $465.32
Methodist Dallas Medical Center Dallas, TX $442.50 $92.68 – $475.74
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center Mansfield, TX $442.50 $92.68 – $476.52
Methodist Midlothian Medical Center Midlothian, TX $442.50 $92.68 – $475.74
Methodist Richardson Medical Center Richardson, TX $442.50 $92.68 – $475.74
Methodist Celina Medical Center Celina, TX $442.50 $107.32 – $440.50
Methodist Southlake Medical Center Souhtlake, TX $442.50 $92.68 – $476.52
HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital Shelbyville, IL $443.52 $88.94 – $97.83
Chandler Regional Medical Center Chandler, AZ $447.56 $91.16 – $1,402.80
CHI Saint Joseph Health - Flaget Memorial Hospital Bardstown, KY $451.86 $186.49 – $969.15
MUSC Health Main Campus - Charleston Charleston, SC $452.50 $78.04 – $179.45
MUSC Health Orangeburg Medical Center Orangeburg, SC $452.50 $163.14 – $179.45
Northridge Hospital Medical Center Northridge, CA $454.50 $54.64 – $1,629.00
Wellstar Cobb Hospital Austell, GA $456.30 $149.53 – $329.59
Wellstar Douglas Hospital Douglasville, GA $456.30 $149.53 – $326.63
Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Marietta, GA $456.30 $149.53 – $329.59
Wellstar MCG Health Augusta, GA $456.30 $103.52 – $301.27
Wellstar North Fulton Hospital Roswell, GA $456.30 $149.53 – $329.59
Wellstar Paulding Hospital Hiram, GA $456.30 $149.53 – $329.59
Wellstar Roosevelt Long Term Acute Care at Warm Springs P O Box 280, GA $456.30 not published
Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital Griffin, GA $456.30 $149.53 – $344.83
Wellstar Sylvan Grove Hospital Jackson, GA $456.30 $149.53 – $518.62
Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center Lagrange, GA $456.30 $149.53 – $338.29
Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital Marietta, GA $456.30 $149.53 – $339.64

Related imaging procedures