Swallow study cost in Helena, MT — inpatient
In Helena, MT, 1 hospital lists a cash price for swallow study (modified barium swallow, video X-ray) as an inpatient: from $157.06 to $157.06, with a median of $157.06. Across Montana, the median is $432.80 at 7 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 74230, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 22, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between — and —.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Peter's Health Helena, MT · (406) 442-2480 HC DI SWALLOWING EVAL W/VIDEO | $157.06 | $184.78 | $175.54 | 15% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $157.06, median $157.06, highest $157.06.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $157.06 — 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 and 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.