Barium swallow cost in Los Angeles, CA
In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, 51 hospitals list a cash price for barium swallow (esophagus X-ray with contrast): from $123.73 to $2,204.00, with a median of $478.40. The lowest listed price is at St Mary Medical Center — $354.67 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $605.53 at 211 hospitals.
- The median here, $478.40, is 7% above the US median of $447.60.
- That is 2.7× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($179.20).
- Los Angeles, CA has the lowest median of 5 metro areas in California with at least 10 hospitals pricing this code.
- 16 of 51 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 51 facilities across 36 cities for code 74220, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Nov 4, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Nov 26, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026.
Lowest$123.73St Mary Medical Center
Median$478.40half of hospitals charge less
Highest$2,204.00in this market
Difference17.8×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA.
median
Lowest $123.73Highest $2,204.00
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary Medical Center lowest Long Beach, CA · (562) 491-9000 XR ESOP SCT CHST W CON FY File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $123.73 | $286.00 | $49.18–$753.71 | 57% |
| St Mary Medical Center Long Beach, CA · (562) 491-9000 XR ESOPH SCOUT CHST W CON File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $126.33 | $292.00 | $49.18–$753.71 | 57% |
| Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare Pomona, CA · (909) 596-7733 Single contrast X-ray of esophagus File of Oct 5, 2026 · source file | $163.37 | $125.67 | $50.27–$471.53 | -30% |
| Garden Grove Hospital Medical Center Garden Grove, CA · (714) 537-5160 Hc Esophagram File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $224.00 | $1,498.58 | $40.98–$1,498.58 | 85% |
| San Dimas Community Hospital San Dimas, CA · (909) 599-6811 Hc Esophagram File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $224.00 | $1,376.34 | $40.98–$1,376.34 | 84% |
| St Francis Medical Center Lynwood, CA · (310) 900-8900 Hc Esophagram File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $224.00 | $1,148.00 | $40.98–$1,033.20 | 80% |
| La Palma Intercommunity Hospital La Palma, CA · (714) 670-7400 Hc Esophagram File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $224.00 | $1,198.86 | $40.98–$1,198.86 | 81% |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center Encino, CA · (818) 995-5000 ESOPHAGUS File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $224.00 | $1,008.70 | $40.98–$1,008.70 | 78% |
| Centinela Hospital Medical Center Inglewood, CA · (310) 673-4660 ESOPHAGUS File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $224.00 | $1,148.00 | $40.98–$1,148.00 | 80% |
| Sherman Oaks Hospital Sherman Oaks, CA · (818) 981-7111 ESOPHAGRAM+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $224.00 | $484.00 | $40.98–$484.00 | 54% |
| West Anaheim Medical Center Anaheim, CA · (714) 827-3000 Hc Esophagram File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $224.00 | $1,198.86 | $40.98–$1,198.86 | 81% |
| Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 364-1400 HC XR ESOPHAGUS W CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $279.36 | $582.00 | — | 52% |
| St Jude Hospital Fullerton, CA · (714) 992-3000 HC XR ESOPHAGUS W CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $282.72 | $589.00 | — | 52% |
| Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center Tarzana, CA · (818) 881-0800 HC XR ESOPHAGUS W CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $305.20 | $872.00 | — | 65% |
| California Hospital Medical Center LA Los Angeles, CA · (213) 748-2411 XR ESOPH SCOUT CHST W CON File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $359.13 | $751.00 | $49.18–$3,012.00 | 52% |
| Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance Torrance, CA · (310) 540-7676 HC XR ESOPHAGUS W CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $384.30 | $1,098.00 | — | 65% |
| Providence Little Co of Mary Medical Center San Pedro San Pedro, CA · (310) 832-3311 HC XR ESOPHAGUS W CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $384.30 | $1,098.00 | — | 65% |
| USC Arcadia Hospital Arcadia, CA · (626) 898-8000 XR-ESOPHAGRAM W/O AIR File of Jul 27, 2026 · source file | $395.50 | $1,130.00 | $181.66–$1,130.00 | 65% |
| Glendale Memorial Hospital & Health Center Glendale, CA · (818) 502-1900 XR ESOPH SCOUT CHST W CON File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $418.77 | $1,331.00 | $54.64–$1,331.00 | 69% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · (323) 783-4011 RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $478.40 | $920.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim Anaheim, CA · (714) 279-4000 RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $478.40 | $920.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Woodland Hills Woodland Hills, CA · (818) 719-3800 RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $478.40 | $920.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - West LA Los Angeles, CA · (213) 857-2201 RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $478.40 | $920.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Irvine Irvine, CA · (714) 279-4000 RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $478.40 | $920.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Downey Downey, CA · (562) 461-6007 RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $478.40 | $920.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park Baldwin Park, CA · (626) 851-1011 RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $478.40 | $920.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Panorama City Panorama City, CA · (818) 375-2000 RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $478.40 | $920.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Bay Harbor City, CA · (310) 325-5111 RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $478.40 | $920.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% |
| Pacifica Hospital of the Valley Sun Valley, CA · (818) 767-3310 Esophagus, Single Cont Study source file | $483.00 | $483.00 | $180.00–$483.00 | — |
| Saint John's Health Center Santa Monica, CA · (310) 829-5511 HC XR ESOPHAGUS W CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $487.90 | $1,394.00 | — | 65% |
| Providence St Joseph Hospital Orange Orange, CA · (714) 633-9111 HC XR ESOPHAGUS W CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $492.00 | $1,025.00 | — | 52% |
| USC Kenneth Norris Jr Cancer Hospital Los Angeles, CA X-Ray Xm Esophagus 1Cntrst File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $537.50 | $537.50 | — | — |
| UCI Health - Fountain Valley Orange, CA · (714) 966-7200 X-RAY ESOPHAGUS SNGL CM STDY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $548.80 | $1,372.00 | — | 60% |
| UCI Health - Placentia Linda Orange, CA · (714) 456-7890 X-RAY ESOPHAGUS SNGL CM STDY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $548.80 | $1,372.00 | — | 60% |
| UCI Health - Los Alamitos Orange, CA · (562) 799-3220 X-RAY ESOPHAGUS SNGL CM STDY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $548.80 | $1,372.00 | — | 60% |
| Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank, CA · (818) 843-5111 HC XR ESOPHAGUS W CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $565.25 | $1,615.00 | — | 65% |
| Valley Presbyterian Hospital Van Nuys, CA · (818) 782-6600 XR-ESOPHAGUS DILATAT File of Jul 9, 2026 · source file | $580.00 | $580.00 | $115.12–$522.00 | — |
| Foothill Regional Medical Center Tustin, CA · (714) 619-7700 ESOPHAGRAM File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $605.53 | $605.53 | $2.17–$601.67 | — |
| Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 364-1400 HC XR ESOPHAGUS W CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $622.56 | $1,297.00 | — | 52% |
| UCI Health - Lakewood Orange, CA · (562) 602-6751 X-RAY ESOPHAGUS SNGL CM STDY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $636.80 | $1,592.00 | — | 60% |
| St Jude Hospital Fullerton, CA · (714) 992-3000 HC XR ESOPHAGUS W CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $644.16 | $1,342.00 | — | 52% |
| Los Angeles Community Hospital Los Angeles, CA · (323) 267-0477 ESOPHAGRAM File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $677.04 | $677.04 | $11.17–$582.25 | — |
| Southern California Hospital at Hollywood Hollywood, CA · (323) 462-2271 ESOPHAGRAM File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $677.04 | $677.04 | $2.18–$582.25 | — |
| Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Mission Hills, CA · (818) 365-8051 HC XR ESOPHAGUS W CONTRAST File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $778.40 | $2,224.00 | — | 65% |
| Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital Norwalk, CA · (310) 532-4200 CONTRAST X-RAY ESOPHAGUS File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $827.40 | $827.40 | $38.85–$661.92 | — |
| Community Hospital of Huntington Park Huntington Park, CA · (323) 583-1931 CONTRAST X-RAY ESOPHAGUS File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $827.40 | $827.40 | $38.85–$661.92 | — |
| Memorial Hospital of Gardena Gardena, CA · (310) 532-4200 CONTRAST X-RAY ESOPHAGUS File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $827.40 | $827.40 | $38.85–$661.92 | — |
| East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital Los Angeles, CA · (323) 268-5514 CONTRAST X-RAY ESOPHAGUS File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $827.40 | $827.40 | $38.85–$661.92 | — |
| Anaheim Global Medical Center Anaheim, CA · (714) 533-6220 XR ESOPHAGUS W-CHEST XR SNGL CONTRAST File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $1,070.00 | $1,070.00 | $38.09–$1,070.00 | — |
| Chapman Global Medical Center Orange, CA · (714) 633-0011 XR ESOPHAGUS W-CHEST XR SNGL CONTRAST File of May 6, 2026 · source file | $1,070.00 | $1,070.00 | $45.71–$1,070.00 | — |
| Orange County Global Medical Center Santa Ana, CA · (714) 953-3500 XR ESOPHAGUS W-CHEST XR SNGL CONTRAST File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $1,070.00 | $1,070.00 | $45.71–$1,070.00 | — |
| Keck Hospital of USC Los Angeles, CA · (323) 442-8656 X-Ray Xm Esophagus 1Cntrst File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,550.75 | $1,550.75 | — | — |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 RADIOLOGIC EXAMINATION; ESOPHAGUS+2 more lines at this price File of Nov 26, 2025 · source file | $1,701.04 | $2,616.99 | $176.90–$14,761.00 | 35% |
| Childrens Hospital at Mission - Cerner Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 365-2408 XR ESOPH W SNGL CONTRAST STUDY File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $2,204.00 | $2,204.00 | $38.09–$2,204.00 | — |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Outpatient: lowest $123.73, median $478.40, highest $2,204.00 — a 17.8× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 42 facilities here, median $548.80. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 23 of 36 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What barium swallow is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Barium swallow explained.