Barium swallow cost in Colorado
In Colorado, 42 hospitals publish a cash price for barium swallow (esophagus X-ray with contrast): from $121.79 to $5,085.85, with a median of $638.10. The lowest price is at Banner North Colorado Medical Center (Greeley). The highest price is 41.8× the lowest.
- The median here, $638.10, is 43% above the US median of $447.60.
- That is 3.6× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($179.20).
- Colorado ranks 44th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 20 of 42 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Colorado's Hospital Discounted Care law (HB21-1198): for qualifying patients with household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, hospitals and the clinicians who work in them may charge no more than the greater of the Medicare rate or the Medicaid base rate, and monthly payments are capped. That can be less than the cash prices below; ask the hospital to screen you for discounted care. Other states' laws.
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 6, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$121.79Banner North Colorado Medical Center
Median$638.10half of hospitals charge less
Highest$5,085.85in Colorado
Lowest saves$516.31vs the median
Hospitals in Colorado, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banner North Colorado Medical Center lowest Greeley · Greeley, CO XR ESOPHAGUS STUDY CNT SINGLE | $121.79 | $346.00 | Sep 23, 2026 source file |
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority Denver · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO HC ESOPHOGOGRAM | $134.04 | $382.97 | Apr 30, 2026 source file |
| Banner Fort Collins Medical Center Fort Collins · Fort Collins-Loveland, CO XR ESOPHAGUS STUDY CNT SINGLE | $180.27 | $346.00 | Sep 23, 2026 source file |
| Vail Health Hospital Vail · Edwards, CO XR Esophagus | $215.25 | $287.00 | Aug 5, 2026 source file |
| Delta County Memorial Hospital Delta · Delta, CO ESOPHAGRAM | $250.11 | $625.27 | Aug 24, 2026 source file |
| Sterling Regional Medical Center Sterling · Sterling, CO XR ESOPHAGUS STUDY CNT SINGLE | $265.50 | $590.00 | Sep 23, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO HB=XR ESOPHAGRAM | $265.85 | $409.00 | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Delta Health Hospital Delta · Delta, CO ESOPHAGRAM | $297.75 | $496.25 | Apr 2, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Avista Louisville · Boulder, CO HC RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $301.22 | $301.22 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Castle Rock Castle Rock · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO HC RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $301.22 | $301.22 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Littleton Littleton · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO HC RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $301.22 | $301.22 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Parker Parker · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO HC RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $301.22 | $301.22 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Porter Denver · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO HC RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $301.22 | $301.22 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| San Luis Valley Health Alamosa · Alamosa, CO CONTRAST X-RAY ESOPHAGUS | $328.90 | $598.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| East Morgan County Hospital Brush · Fort Morgan, CO XR ESOPHAGUS STUDY CNT SINGLE | $391.76 | $590.00 | Sep 23, 2026 source file |
| Pagosa Springs Medical Center Pagosa Springs · Pagosa Springs, CO XR Esophagus | $435.60 | $544.50 | Sep 24, 2026 source file |
| Salida Hospital District Salida · Salida, CO Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $476.85 | $561.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Rangely Hospital District Rangely · Rangely, CO Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $514.16 | $791.01 | Sep 24, 2026 source file |
| Grand River Medical Center Rifle · Rifle, CO SINGLE CONTRAST X-RAY OF ESOPHAGUS | $521.00 | $1,042.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| National Jewish Health Denver · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO HC DI ESOPHAGRAM | $527.80 | $754.00 | Mar 1, 2026 source file |
| Family Health West Hospital Fruita · Grand Junction, CO HC DI ESOPHAGRAM | $589.40 | $842.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Gunnison Valley Hospital Gunnison · Gunnison, CO Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $686.80 | $808.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Community Hospital Grand Junction · Grand Junction, CO SINGLE CONTRAST X-RAY OF ESOPHAGUS | $687.12 | $1,227.00 | Mar 13, 2026 source file |
| Centennial Hospital A Campus of Tmca Englewood · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO XR ESOPHAGUS | $774.69 | $774.69 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| HCA Healthone Aurora Aurora · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO XR ESOPHAGUS | $774.69 | $774.69 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| HCA Healthone Presbyterian St Lukes Denver · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $802.25 | $802.25 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspen Valley Hospital District Aspen · Rifle, CO HC Esophagram - Fl Esophagus Barium Swallow | $858.00 | $858.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Lincoln Health Hugo · Hugo, CO X-ray xm esophagus 1cntrst | $865.00 | $865.00 | Jun 4, 2026 source file |
| Middle Park Health - Fraser Fraser · Fraser, CO HC ESOPHAGRAM SINGLE CONTRAST | $916.08 | $1,145.10 | Apr 28, 2026 source file |
| Middle Park Medical Center Kremmling · Kremmling, CO HC ESOPHAGRAM SINGLE CONTRAST | $916.08 | $1,145.10 | Apr 27, 2026 source file |
| Middle Park Medical Center-Granby Granby · Granby, CO HC ESOPHAGRAM SINGLE CONTRAST | $916.08 | $1,145.10 | Apr 27, 2026 source file |
| Spalding at Psl Denver · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO XR ESOPHAGUS | $1,084.19 | $1,084.19 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Boulder Community Health Boulder · Boulder, CO HC ESOPHAGRAM - FL ESOPHAGUS BARIUM SWALLOW | $1,354.50 | $2,709.00 | Sep 16, 2026 source file |
| HCA Healthone Central Park ER Denver · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO XR ESOPHAGUS | $2,313.00 | $2,313.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| HCA Healthone Rose Denver · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO XR ESOPHAGUS | $2,313.00 | $2,313.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| HCA Healthone Belmar ER Lakewood · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO XR ESOPHAGUS | $2,928.36 | $2,928.36 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| HCA Healthone Southwest ER Littleton · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO XR ESOPHAGUS | $2,928.36 | $2,928.36 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| HCA Healthone Swedish Englewood · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO XR ESOPHAGUS | $2,928.36 | $2,928.36 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| HCA Healthone Mountain Ridge Thornton · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $3,568.64 | $3,568.64 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| HCA Healthone Northeast ER Thornton · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $3,568.64 | $3,568.64 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| HCA Healthone Sky Ridge Lone Tree · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO XR ESOPHAGUS | $5,085.85 | $5,085.85 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| HCA Healthone South Parker ER Parker · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO XR ESOPHAGUS | $5,085.85 | $5,085.85 | Sep 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
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 20 | $134.04 | $943.22 |
| Boulder, CO | 2 | $301.22 | $827.86 |
| Delta, CO | 2 | $250.11 | $273.93 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 2 | $589.40 | $638.26 |
| Rifle, CO | 2 | $521.00 | $689.50 |
| Alamosa, CO | 1 | $328.90 | $328.90 |
| Edwards, CO | 1 | $215.25 | $215.25 |
| Fraser, CO | 1 | $916.08 | $916.08 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 1 | $180.27 | $180.27 |
| Fort Morgan, CO | 1 | $391.76 | $391.76 |
| Granby, CO | 1 | $916.08 | $916.08 |
| Gunnison, CO | 1 | $686.80 | $686.80 |
| Greeley, CO | 1 | $121.79 | $121.79 |
| Hugo, CO | 1 | $865.00 | $865.00 |
| Kremmling, CO | 1 | $916.08 | $916.08 |
| Pagosa Springs, CO | 1 | $435.60 | $435.60 |
| Rangely, CO | 1 | $514.16 | $514.16 |
| Salida, CO | 1 | $476.85 | $476.85 |
| Sterling, CO | 1 | $265.50 | $265.50 |
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
- Alabama$276.42
- Alaska$815.79
- Arizona$341.04
- Arkansas$231.89
- California$605.53
- 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.