Barium swallow cost in Ruston, LA — inpatient
In Ruston, LA, 1 hospital lists a cash price for barium swallow (esophagus X-ray with contrast) as an inpatient: from $675.40 to $675.40, with a median of $675.40. Across Louisiana, the median is $256.62 at 25 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 74220, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jun 19, 2026 and Jun 19, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Ruston, LA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Louisiana Medical Center lowest Ruston, LA · (318) 254-2100 ESOPHAGRAM | $675.40 | $1,228.00 | $91.85–$1,228.00 | 45% | Jun 19, 2026 source file |
| Northern Louisiana Medical Center lowest Ruston, LA · (318) 254-2100 X-RAY XM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $675.40 | $1,228.00 | $91.85–$1,228.00 | 45% | Jun 19, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $675.40, median $675.40, highest $675.40.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $675.40 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated. 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 it is
A barium swallow is a live X-ray of the esophagus while you drink barium. It shows narrowing, hernias and problems with how food passes.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the study and the barium. The radiologist's reading may be billed separately.