Swallow study cost in Denver, CO — inpatient
In Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO, 7 hospitals list a cash price for swallow study (modified barium swallow, video X-ray) as an inpatient: from $125.48 to $515.90, with a median of $301.22. The lowest listed price is at Denver Health and Hospital Authority — $175.74 less than the median here. Across Colorado, the median is $301.22 at 13 hospitals.
Cash prices at 7 facilities across 5 cities for code 74230, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Apr 30, 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority lowest Denver, CO HC MODIF BARIUM SWALLOW W SPEECH PATH | $125.48 | $358.51 | $122.97 | 65% | Apr 30, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Littleton Littleton, CO HC RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $301.22 | $301.22 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Porter Denver, CO HC RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $301.22 | $301.22 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Parker Parker, CO HC RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $301.22 | $301.22 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Castle Rock Castle Rock, CO HC RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $301.22 | $301.22 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO HB=XR SWALLOW FUNCTION W/VIDEO | $414.05 | $637.00 | $95.55–$586.04 | 35% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| National Jewish Health Denver, CO HC DI SWALLOWING EVAL W/VIDEO | $515.90 | $737.00 | $185.03–$626.45 | 30% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $125.48, median $301.22, highest $515.90 — a 4.1× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 7 facilities here, median $301.22 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 2 of 3 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 it is
A swallow study films the mouth and throat on X-ray while you swallow foods and liquids with barium. It shows whether food goes into the airway and is often done with a speech therapist after a stroke.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the X-ray part. The speech therapist's evaluation is billed separately.