Barium swallow cost in Alabama
In Alabama, 49 hospitals publish a cash price for barium swallow (esophagus X-ray with contrast): from $59.00 to $1,459.00, with a median of $276.42. The lowest price is at Coosa Valley Medical Center (Sylacauga). The highest price is 24.7× the lowest.
- The median here, $276.42, is 38% below the US median of $447.60.
- That is 1.5× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($179.20).
- Alabama ranks 6th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 16 of 49 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 74220. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 8, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$59.00Coosa Valley Medical Center
Median$276.42half of hospitals charge less
Highest$1,459.00in Alabama
Lowest saves$217.42vs the median
Hospitals in Alabama, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coosa Valley Medical Center lowest Sylacauga · Talladega-Sylacauga, AL Esophagus | $59.00 | $246.00 | — source file |
| Russellville Hospital Russellville · Russellville, AL ESOPHAGRAM | $103.09 | $396.50 | Jul 31, 2026 source file |
| Lakeland Community Hospital Haleyville · Haleyville, AL BARIUM SWALLOW | $112.00 | $712.50 | Sep 28, 2026 source file |
| Tanner Medical Center - East Alabama Wedowee · Wedowee, AL X-RAY XM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $121.60 | $304.00 | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Monroe County Hospital Monroeville · Monroeville, AL ESOPHAGUS BA SWALLOW | $127.60 | $319.00 | Mar 2, 2026 source file |
| Medical Center Barbour Eufaula · Eufaula, AL-GA ESOPHAG/BAR SWALLOW | $150.50 | $301.00 | Mar 29, 2026 source file |
| Riverview Regional Medical Center Gadsden · Gadsden, AL Hc Esophagram | $156.00 | $1,276.78 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Evergreen Medical Center Evergreen · Evergreen, AL ESOPHAGUS/BA SWALLOW | $166.40 | $256.00 | Sep 2, 2026 source file |
| Troy Regional Medical Center Troy · Troy, AL BARIUM SWALLOW SINGLE | $184.00 | $575.00 | Dec 31, 2024 source file |
| The Children's Hospital of Alabama Birmingham · Birmingham, AL HC Esophagram - Fl Esophagus Barium Swallow | $200.79 | $466.95 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| The Children's Hospital of Alabama – Benjamin Russell Hospital Birmingham · Birmingham, AL HC Esophagram - Fl Esophagus Barium Swallow | $200.79 | $466.95 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Baldwin Health Foley · Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL FL-ESOPHAGUS | $210.44 | $1,169.12 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| East Alabama Medical Center Opelika · Auburn-Opelika, AL XR Exam 9 | $227.15 | $413.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Huntsville Hospital Huntsville · Huntsville, AL BOOT EQUALIZER SMALL | $238.50 | $238.50 | Mar 27, 2026 source file |
| Huntsville Hospital Madison · Huntsville, AL BOOT EQUALIZER SMALL | $238.50 | $238.50 | Mar 27, 2026 source file |
| Floyd Cherokee Medical Center Centre · Centre, AL HC DX ESOPHAGRAM | $240.00 | $480.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Whitfield Regional Hospital Demopolis · Demopolis, AL Barium Swallow | $240.00 | $400.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Flowers Hospital Dothan · Dothan, AL FL-ESOPHAGUS | $240.75 | $1,605.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Crenshaw Community Hospital Luverne · Luverne, AL XR ESOPHAGRAM | $252.18 | $504.35 | Oct 13, 2025 source file |
| Southeast Health Medical Center Dothan · Dothan, AL SINGLE CONTRAST X-RAY OF ESOPHAGUS | $260.12 | $650.30 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Dch Regional Medical Center Tuscaloosa · Tuscaloosa, AL ESOPHAGRAM-BA SWAL | $265.88 | $531.75 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Fayette Medical Center Fayette · Fayette, AL ESOPHAGRAM-BA SWAL | $265.88 | $531.75 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Medical Center Enterprise Enterprise · Enterprise, AL FL-ESOPHAGUS | $267.92 | $2,976.86 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Medical Center East Montgomery · Montgomery, AL F-DX ESOPHOGRAM | $276.42 | $460.70 | Dec 30, 2025 source file |
| Baptist Medical Center South Montgomery · Montgomery, AL DX ESOPHAGRAM | $276.42 | $460.70 | Dec 30, 2025 source file |
| Cullman Regional Medical Center Cullman · Cullman, AL XR Barium Swallow | $282.98 | $527.78 | Jan 19, 2026 source file |
| Marion Regional Medical Center Hamilton · Hamilton, AL HC ESOPHAGRAM - FL ESOPHAGUS BARIUM SWALLOW | $285.95 | $665.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| North Mississippi Health Services-South Marion Winfield · Winfield, AL HC ESOPHAGRAM - FL ESOPHAGUS BARIUM SWALLOW | $285.95 | $665.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Crestwood Medical Center Huntsville · Huntsville, AL FL-ESOPHAGUS | $340.23 | $1,890.17 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Highlands Medical Center Scottsboro · Scottsboro, AL SINGLE CONTRAST X-RAY OF ESOPHAGUS | $352.80 | $504.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Springhill Memorial Hospital Mobile · Mobile, AL BARIUM SWALLOW - ESOPH | $355.68 | $418.45 | Apr 2, 2026 source file |
| Decatur Morgan Hospital West Decatur · Decatur, AL BA SWAL-ESOPHAGUS | $361.00 | $361.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Decatur Morgan Hospital - Decatur Campus Decatur · Decatur, AL BA SWAL-ESOPHAGUS | $361.00 | $361.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Decatur Morgan Hospital - Parkway Campus Decatur · Decatur, AL BA SWAL-ESOPHAGUS | $361.00 | $361.00 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Marshall Medical Center North Guntersville · Albertville, AL X-RAY XM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $414.70 | $414.70 | Apr 13, 2026 source file |
| Marshall Medical Centers Boaz · Albertville, AL X-RAY XM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $414.70 | $414.70 | Apr 13, 2026 source file |
| Grandview Medical Center Birmingham · Birmingham, AL FL-ESOPHAGUS | $416.40 | $2,776.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner Choctaw General Butler · Butler, AL HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $479.56 | $631.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Gadsden Regional Medical Center Gadsden · Gadsden, AL FL-ESOPHAGUS | $479.78 | $3,998.16 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Red Bay Hospital Red Bay · Russellville, AL D-INSERT RETRIEVAL DEVICE R11 | $525.01 | $525.01 | Mar 27, 2026 source file |
| Helen Keller Hospital Sheffield · Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL XR-BARIUM SWALLOW /ESOPHAGUS | $543.00 | $543.00 | Mar 27, 2026 source file |
| Athens Limestone Hospital Athens · Huntsville, AL BARIUM SWALLOW | $565.00 | $565.00 | Mar 25, 2026 source file |
| DeKalb Regional Medical Center Fort Payne · Fort Payne, AL BARIUM SWALLOW | $565.00 | $565.00 | Aug 20, 2026 source file |
| UAB Medical West Bessemer · Birmingham, AL Esophagram/Ba Swallow | $657.75 | $877.00 | Jun 22, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital Birmingham · Birmingham, AL Hb Esophagram - Fl Esophagus Barium Swallow | $1,279.00 | $1,279.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Citizens Hospital Talladega · Talladega-Sylacauga, AL Hb Esophagram - Fl Esophagus Barium Swallow | $1,459.00 | $1,459.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Princeton Hospital Birmingham · Birmingham, AL Hb Esophagram - Fl Esophagus Barium Swallow | $1,459.00 | $1,459.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Shelby Hospital Alabaster · Birmingham, AL Hb Esophagram - Fl Esophagus Barium Swallow | $1,459.00 | $1,459.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Walker Hospital Jasper · Birmingham, AL Hb Esophagram - Fl Esophagus Barium Swallow | $1,459.00 | $1,459.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
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
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
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
Check the item The description in the hospital file looks like a supply or device (a catheter, a brace, an implant), not this procedure. The hospital may have filed it under the wrong code: ask before relying on this price.
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 8 | $200.79 | $968.38 |
| Huntsville, AL | 4 | $238.50 | $289.36 |
| Decatur, AL | 3 | $361.00 | $361.00 |
| Albertville, AL | 2 | $414.70 | $414.70 |
| Dothan, AL | 2 | $240.75 | $250.44 |
| Gadsden, AL | 2 | $156.00 | $317.89 |
| Montgomery, AL | 2 | $276.42 | $276.42 |
| Russellville, AL | 2 | $103.09 | $314.05 |
| Talladega-Sylacauga, AL | 2 | $59.00 | $759.00 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | 1 | $227.15 | $227.15 |
| Butler, AL | 1 | $479.56 | $479.56 |
| Centre, AL | 1 | $240.00 | $240.00 |
| Cullman, AL | 1 | $282.98 | $282.98 |
| Demopolis, AL | 1 | $240.00 | $240.00 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 1 | $210.44 | $210.44 |
| Evergreen, AL | 1 | $166.40 | $166.40 |
| Enterprise, AL | 1 | $267.92 | $267.92 |
| Eufaula, AL-GA | 1 | $150.50 | $150.50 |
| Fayette, AL | 1 | $265.88 | $265.88 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 1 | $543.00 | $543.00 |
| Fort Payne, AL | 1 | $565.00 | $565.00 |
| Haleyville, AL | 1 | $112.00 | $112.00 |
| Hamilton, AL | 1 | $285.95 | $285.95 |
| Luverne, AL | 1 | $252.18 | $252.18 |
| Monroeville, AL | 1 | $127.60 | $127.60 |
| Mobile, AL | 1 | $355.68 | $355.68 |
| Scottsboro, AL | 1 | $352.80 | $352.80 |
| Troy, AL | 1 | $184.00 | $184.00 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 1 | $265.88 | $265.88 |
| Wedowee, AL | 1 | $121.60 | $121.60 |
| Winfield, AL | 1 | $285.95 | $285.95 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What barium swallow is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Barium swallow explained.
Barium swallow (esophagus X-ray with contrast) in other states
- Alaska$815.79
- Arizona$341.04
- Arkansas$231.89
- California$605.53
- Colorado$638.10
- Connecticut$644.66
- Delaware$416.23
- District of Columbia$479.63, 3 hospitals
- Florida$840.67
- Georgia$343.53
- Hawaii$490.00
- Idaho$419.90
- Illinois$609.72
- Indiana$465.25
- Iowa$364.41
- Kansas$422.45
- Kentucky$437.32
- Louisiana$215.60
- Maine$361.59
- Maryland$573.68
- Massachusetts$535.50
- Michigan$289.25
- Minnesota$309.81
- Mississippi$221.60
- Missouri$433.55
- Montana$355.36
- Nebraska$627.25
- Nevada$565.39
- New Hampshire$605.65
- New Jersey$209.65
- New Mexico$490.05
- New York$342.50
- North Carolina$443.00
- North Dakota$358.15
- Ohio$442.50
- Oklahoma$293.54
- Oregon$558.63
- Pennsylvania$460.00
- Puerto Rico$202.50, 4 hospitals
- Rhode Island$446.00
- South Carolina$466.20
- South Dakota$829.00
- Tennessee$219.31
- Texas$521.39
- Utah$660.77
- Vermont$862.64
- Virginia$485.00
- Washington$558.60
- West Virginia$368.51
- Wisconsin$530.00
- Wyoming$456.57
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.