Swallow study cost in Los Angeles, CA
In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, 30 hospitals list a cash price for swallow study (modified barium swallow, video X-ray): from $224.00 to $1,701.04, with a median of $546.00. The lowest listed price is at Encino Hospital Medical Center and 3 other hospitals — $322.00 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $577.50 at 99 hospitals.
Cash prices at 30 facilities across 22 cities for code 74230, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Nov 26, 2025 and Sep 1, 2026.
Lowest$224.00Encino Hospital Medical Center + 3 more
Median$546.00half pay less
Highest$1,701.04in this market
Difference7.6×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 $224.00Highest $1,701.04
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Encino Hospital Medical Center lowest Encino, CA · (818) 995-5000 ST XR SWALLOW CINE VIDEO W/CNT | $224.00 | $911.10 | $59.57–$1,175.00 | 75% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Centinela Hospital Medical Center lowest Inglewood, CA · (310) 673-4660 SWALLOWING FUNCTION WITH CINE | $224.00 | $562.55 | $59.57–$562.55 | 60% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Sherman Oaks Hospital lowest Sherman Oaks, CA · (818) 981-7111 VIDEO ESOPHAGUS W/SPEECH THERA | $224.00 | $866.00 | $59.57–$911.10 | 74% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Sherman Oaks Hospital lowest Sherman Oaks, CA · (818) 981-7111 ST XR SWALLOW CINE VIDEO W/CNT | $224.00 | $911.10 | $59.57–$911.10 | 75% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| La Palma Intercommunity Hospital lowest La Palma, CA · (714) 670-7400 Hc Swallowing Fcn,W/Cine &/Or Video | $224.00 | $1,426.56 | $59.57–$1,426.56 | 84% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center lowest Encino, CA · (818) 995-5000 XR Palate Soft-Cine/Video | $224.00 | $578.40 | $59.57–$1,175.00 | 61% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center lowest Encino, CA · (818) 995-5000 EVAL SWALL FUNC CINE OR VIDEO | $224.00 | $911.10 | $59.57–$1,175.00 | 75% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Sherman Oaks Hospital lowest Sherman Oaks, CA · (818) 981-7111 ESOPHAGUS W/ BARIUM SWALLOW | $224.00 | $827.00 | $59.57–$911.10 | 73% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Sherman Oaks Hospital lowest Sherman Oaks, CA · (818) 981-7111 ST XR SWALLO CINE VIDEO W/CONT | $224.00 | $911.10 | $59.57–$911.10 | 75% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center lowest Encino, CA · (818) 995-5000 SWALLOW FUNCTN | $224.00 | $1,175.00 | $59.57–$1,175.00 | 81% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 364-1400 HC XR RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $328.32 | $684.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Jude Hospital Fullerton, CA · (714) 992-3000 HC XR RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $428.16 | $892.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint John's Health Center Santa Monica, CA · (310) 829-5511 HC XR RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $521.85 | $1,491.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UCI Health - Los Alamitos Orange, CA · (714) 456-7890 SWAL FUNC W/CINE/VIDEO+CM STDY | $532.00 | $1,330.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UCI Health - Placentia Linda Orange, CA · (714) 456-7890 SWAL FUNC W/CINE/VIDEO+CM STDY | $532.00 | $1,330.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UCI Health - Fountain Valley Orange, CA · (714) 456-7890 SWAL FUNC W/CINE/VIDEO+CM STDY | $532.00 | $1,330.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Bay Harbor City, CA · (310) 325-5111 RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $546.00 | $1,050.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · (323) 783-4011 RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $546.00 | $1,050.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - West la Los Angeles, CA · (213) 857-2201 RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $546.00 | $1,050.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park Baldwin Park, CA · (626) 851-1011 RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $546.00 | $1,050.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim Anaheim, CA · (714) 279-4000 RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $546.00 | $1,050.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Downey Downey, CA · (562) 461-6007 RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $546.00 | $1,050.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Panorama City Panorama City, CA · (818) 375-2000 RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $546.00 | $1,050.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Irvine Irvine, CA RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $546.00 | $1,050.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Woodland Hills Woodland Hills, CA · (818) 719-3800 RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $546.00 | $1,050.00 | $161.00–$480.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank, CA · (818) 843-5111 HC XR RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $565.25 | $1,615.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance Torrance, CA · (310) 540-7676 HC XR RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $577.50 | $1,650.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Little Co of Mary Medical Center San Pedro San Pedro, CA · (310) 832-3311 HC XR RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $577.50 | $1,650.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Joseph Hospital of Orange Orange, CA · (714) 633-9111 HC XR RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $598.56 | $1,247.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital Marina del Rey, CA · (310) 823-8911 PET Scan | $643.79 | $990.44 | $213.66–$2,246.04 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital Marina del Rey, CA · (310) 823-8911 CAT Scan | $643.79 | $990.44 | $213.66–$2,246.04 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital Marina del Rey, CA · (310) 823-8911 HB XR SWALLOW CINE VIDEO CONT STUDY | $643.79 | $990.44 | $221.67–$9,712.00 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital Marina del Rey, CA · (310) 823-8911 Outpatient Global Laboratory, Radiology and Diagnostic Services | $643.79 | $990.44 | $213.66–$2,246.04 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital Marina del Rey, CA · (310) 823-8911 Radiology Services not otherwise listed herein | $643.79 | $990.44 | $213.66–$2,246.04 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| St Jude Hospital Fullerton, CA · (714) 992-3000 HC XR RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $660.00 | $1,375.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Mission Hills, CA · (818) 365-8051 HC XR RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $695.45 | $1,987.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UCI Health - Lakewood Orange, CA · (714) 456-7890 SWAL FUNC W/CINE/VIDEO+CM STDY | $706.40 | $1,766.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 364-1400 HC XR RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $757.92 | $1,579.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center Tarzana, CA · (818) 881-0800 HC XR RADIOLOGIC EXAM SWALLOW FUNCTION CONTRAST STUDY | $831.95 | $2,377.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| USC Kenneth Norris Jr Cancer Hospital Los Angeles, CA X-Ray Xm Swlng Funcj C+ | $1,313.00 | $1,313.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Keck Hospital of USC Los Angeles, CA · (323) 442-8656 X-Ray Xm Swlng Funcj C+ | $1,369.50 | $1,369.50 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 HB XR SWALLOW CINE VIDEO CONT STUDY | $1,701.04 | $2,616.99 | $221.67–$14,761.00 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 PET Scan | $1,701.04 | $2,616.99 | $254.28–$4,200.53 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 SWALLOWING FUNCTION, PHARYNX AND/OR ESOPHAGUS, WITH CINERADIOGRAPHY AND/OR VIDEO | $1,701.04 | $2,616.99 | $254.28–$4,200.53 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $224.00, median $546.00, highest $1,701.04 — a 7.6× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 27 facilities here, median $546.00. 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 6 of 15 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.