Barium swallow cost in Iowa
In Iowa, 72 hospitals publish a cash price for barium swallow (esophagus X-ray with contrast): from $179.20 to $752.00, with a median of $364.41. The lowest price is at Floyd County Memorial Hospital Commission (Charles City). The highest price is 4.2× the lowest.
- The median here, $364.41, is 19% below the US median of $447.60.
- That is 2.0× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($179.20).
- Iowa ranks 16th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 9 of 72 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 7, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$179.20Floyd County Memorial Hospital Commission
Median$364.41half of hospitals charge less
Highest$752.00in Iowa
Lowest saves$185.21vs the median
Hospitals in Iowa, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floyd County Memorial Hospital Commission lowest Charles City · Charles City, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $179.20 | $448.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Allen Hospital Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $181.90 | $227.37 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health Marshalltown Marshalltown · Marshalltown, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $181.90 | $227.37 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA MJFL Exam | $192.90 | $643.00 | Feb 15, 2026 source file |
| Orange City Municipal Hospital Orange City · Orange City, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $199.20 | $249.00 | Sep 23, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa Corning · Corning, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM | $202.95 | $451.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Van Buren County Hospital Keosauqua · Keosauqua, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $205.10 | $293.00 | Jul 20, 2026 source file |
| WinnMed Decorah · Decorah, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $207.90 | $297.00 | Oct 13, 2026 source file |
| Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinic West Union · West Union, IA HCHG 74220 XRAY, ESOPHAGUS, INCL SCOUT CHEST; SINGLE CONTRAST ST | $222.16 | $374.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| Van Diest Medical Center Webster City · Webster City, IA XR Esophagus | $223.20 | $279.00 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital of Missouri Valley, Iowa Missouri Valley · Omaha, NE-IA HC ESOPHAGRAM | $225.50 | $451.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Washington County Hospital Washington · Iowa City, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $228.00 | $304.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Shelby County Chris A Myrtue Memorial Hospital Harlan · Harlan, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $244.76 | $422.00 | Apr 21, 2026 source file |
| Jefferson County Hospital Fairfield · Fairfield, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $249.60 | $416.00 | Aug 20, 2026 source file |
| Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Storm Lake · Storm Lake, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $250.40 | $313.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Cherokee Regional Medical Center Cherokee · Cherokee, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $254.70 | $283.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Cass County Memorial Hospital Atlantic · Atlantic, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $259.00 | $370.00 | Jun 1, 2026 source file |
| Sioux Center Health Sioux Center · Sioux Center, IA | $259.96 | $268.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL GI Esophagram | $294.00 | $490.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Waverly Health Center Waverly · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $300.56 | $578.00 | Oct 19, 2026 source file |
| Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Humboldt · Humboldt, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $315.90 | $351.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Jones Regional Medical Center Anamosa · Cedar Rapids, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $318.37 | $397.96 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL GI Esophagram | $321.60 | $536.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center Dewitt · Clinton, IA GI Esophagram | $321.60 | $536.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Dallas County Hospital Perry · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA XR ESOPHAGUS-XRAY PER PROTOCOL | $324.00 | $499.00 | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Shenandoah Medical Center Shenandoah · Shenandoah, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $330.20 | $508.00 | Sep 21, 2026 source file |
| Manning Regional Healthcare Center Manning · Carroll, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $330.98 | $494.00 | Oct 16, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge · Fort Dodge, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $333.71 | $417.13 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Newton Medical Center Newton · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Xr Esophogram Chest Radiograph(S) & Delayed Images Single Contrast Study | $338.00 | $520.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Clarinda Regional Health Center Clarinda · Clarinda, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $343.50 | $458.00 | Oct 23, 2026 source file |
| Regional Medical Center Manchester · Manchester, IA X-RAY XM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $346.40 | $433.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Hawarden Regional Healthcare Harwarden · Harwarden, IA ESOPHOGRAM | $353.60 | $416.00 | Apr 24, 2026 source file |
| Belmond Community Hospital Belmond · Belmond, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $356.40 | $594.00 | Apr 22, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Xr Esophogram Chest Radiograph(S) & Delayed Images Single Contrast Study | $356.85 | $549.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Rawford County Memorial Hospital Denison · Denison, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $359.20 | $449.00 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| Story County Hospital Nevada · Ames, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $361.60 | $452.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HC ESOPHAGRAM | $367.22 | $854.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City · Mason City, IA HC Xr Esophogram Chest Radiograph(S) & Delayed Images Single Contrast Study | $369.20 | $568.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Iowa Specialty Hospital-Clarion Clarion · Clarion, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $371.40 | $619.00 | Jun 11, 2026 source file |
| Palo Alto County Hospital Emmetsburg · Emmetsburg, IA Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest rad | $375.75 | $501.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Methodist Hospital Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $382.95 | $478.68 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Kossuth Regional Health Center Algona · Algona, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $390.40 | $488.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Hansen Family Hospital Iowa Falls · Iowa Falls, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $391.00 | $391.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| The Finley Hospital Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $392.44 | $490.55 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC Xr Esophogram Chest Radiograph(S) & Delayed Images Single Contrast Study | $405.60 | $624.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Greene County Medical Center Jefferson · Jefferson, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $408.80 | $730.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Franklin General Hospital Hampton · Hampton, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $409.50 | $455.00 | Nov 3, 2026 source file |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center Sioux City · Sioux City, IA-NE-SD HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $415.24 | $519.05 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton · Clinton, IA HC Xr Esophogram Chest Radiograph(S) & Delayed Images Single Contrast Study | $415.35 | $639.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Hancock County Health System Britt · Britt, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $415.50 | $554.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Guthrie County Hospital Guthrie Center · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $425.00 | $425.00 | Sep 26, 2026 source file |
| Spencer Municipal Hospital Spencer · Spencer, IA Contrast X-Ray Esophagus | $431.25 | $575.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell · Grinnell, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $444.48 | $555.59 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Trinity - Bettendorf Bettendorf · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $447.80 | $559.74 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Unity Healthcare Muscatine · Muscatine, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $447.80 | $559.74 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Boone County Hospital Boone · Ames, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $483.99 | $604.99 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $505.76 | $632.20 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Centerville Medical Center Centerville · Centerville, IA HC Xr Esophogram Chest Radiograph(S) & Delayed Images Single Contrast Study | $520.00 | $520.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Wayne County Hospital Corydon · Corydon, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $548.00 | $548.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center West Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Xr Esophogram Chest Radiograph(S) & Delayed Images Single Contrast Study | $549.00 | $549.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Avera Holy Family Hospital Estherville · Estherville, IA | $566.48 | $584.00 | — source file |
| Jackson County Regional Health Center Maquoketa · Maquoketa, IA GI ESOPHAGRAM | $569.00 | $569.00 | Aug 11, 2026 source file |
| Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Contrast X-Ray, Esophagus | $575.00 | $575.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Stewart Memorial Community Hospital Lake City · Lake City, IA ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $630.00 | $788.00 | Oct 8, 2024 source file |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB ESOPHAGRAM | $642.60 | $918.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB ESOPHAGRAM | $642.60 | $918.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| Pocahontas Community Hospital Pocahontas · Pocahontas, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $645.00 | $645.00 | Mar 29, 2026 source file |
| Lakes Regional Hospital Spirit Lake · Spirit Lake, IA | $659.30 | $694.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC Xr Esophogram Chest Radiograph(S) & Delayed Images Single Contrast Study | $665.60 | $1,024.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sartori Memorial Hospital Cedar Falls · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC Xr Esophogram Chest Radiograph(S) & Delayed Images Single Contrast Study | $665.60 | $1,024.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon · Sheldon, IA RAD EXAM ESOPHAGUS | $744.00 | $930.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| St Anthony Regional Hospital and Nursing Home Carroll · Carroll, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $752.00 | $752.00 | Nov 3, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 7 | $324.00 | $425.00 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 4 | $181.90 | $483.08 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3 | $294.00 | $321.60 |
| Iowa City, IA | 3 | $228.00 | $642.60 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 3 | $192.90 | $225.50 |
| Ames, IA | 2 | $361.60 | $422.80 |
| Carroll, IA | 2 | $330.98 | $541.49 |
| Clinton, IA | 2 | $321.60 | $368.48 |
| Dubuque, IA | 2 | $392.44 | $399.02 |
| Algona, IA | 1 | $390.40 | $390.40 |
| Atlantic, IA | 1 | $259.00 | $259.00 |
| Belmond, IA | 1 | $356.40 | $356.40 |
| Britt, IA | 1 | $415.50 | $415.50 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $382.95 | $382.95 |
| Centerville, IA | 1 | $520.00 | $520.00 |
| Charles City, IA | 1 | $179.20 | $179.20 |
| Cherokee, IA | 1 | $254.70 | $254.70 |
| Clarinda, IA | 1 | $343.50 | $343.50 |
| Clarion, IA | 1 | $371.40 | $371.40 |
| Corning, IA | 1 | $202.95 | $202.95 |
| Corydon, IA | 1 | $548.00 | $548.00 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $318.37 | $318.37 |
| Decorah, IA | 1 | $207.90 | $207.90 |
| Denison, IA | 1 | $359.20 | $359.20 |
| Emmetsburg, IA | 1 | $375.75 | $375.75 |
| Estherville, IA | 1 | $566.48 | $566.48 |
| Fairfield, IA | 1 | $249.60 | $249.60 |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $333.71 | $333.71 |
| Grinnell, IA | 1 | $444.48 | $444.48 |
| Hampton, IA | 1 | $409.50 | $409.50 |
| Harlan, IA | 1 | $244.76 | $244.76 |
| Harwarden, IA | 1 | $353.60 | $353.60 |
| Humboldt, IA | 1 | $315.90 | $315.90 |
| Iowa Falls, IA | 1 | $391.00 | $391.00 |
| Jefferson, IA | 1 | $408.80 | $408.80 |
| Keosauqua, IA | 1 | $205.10 | $205.10 |
| Lake City, IA | 1 | $630.00 | $630.00 |
| Manchester, IA | 1 | $346.40 | $346.40 |
| Maquoketa, IA | 1 | $569.00 | $569.00 |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $181.90 | $181.90 |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $369.20 | $369.20 |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $447.80 | $447.80 |
| Orange City, IA | 1 | $199.20 | $199.20 |
| Pocahontas, IA | 1 | $645.00 | $645.00 |
| Sheldon, IA | 1 | $744.00 | $744.00 |
| Shenandoah, IA | 1 | $330.20 | $330.20 |
| Sioux Center, IA | 1 | $259.96 | $259.96 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $415.24 | $415.24 |
| Spencer, IA | 1 | $431.25 | $431.25 |
| Spirit Lake, IA | 1 | $659.30 | $659.30 |
| Storm Lake, IA | 1 | $250.40 | $250.40 |
| Webster City, IA | 1 | $223.20 | $223.20 |
| West Union, IA | 1 | $222.16 | $222.16 |
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
- 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
- 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.