Barium swallow cost in Iowa
In Iowa, 32 hospitals publish a cash price for barium swallow (esophagus X-ray with contrast): from $176.60 to $744.00, with a median of $221.58. The lowest price is at Allen Hospital (Waterloo) and 1 other hospital. The highest price is 4.2× the lowest.
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 Sep 23, 2026.
Lowest$176.60Allen Hospital + 1 more
Median$221.58half pay less
Highest$744.00in Iowa
Lowest saves$44.98vs the median
Hospitals in Iowa, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen Hospital lowest Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $176.60 | $220.75 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health Marshalltown lowest Marshalltown · Marshalltown, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM SGL CONTRAST STUDY | $176.60 | $220.75 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell · Grinnell, IA CHG RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $190.40 | $238.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Methodist Hospital Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids, IA CHG RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $190.40 | $238.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Luke'sJones Regional Medical Center Anamosa · Cedar Rapids, IA CHG RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $190.40 | $238.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center Sioux City · Sioux City, IA-NE-SD CHG RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $190.40 | $238.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| The Finley Hospital Dubuque · Dubuque, IA CHG RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $190.40 | $238.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Medical Center Bettendorf · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL CHG RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $190.40 | $238.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge · Fort Dodge, IA CHG RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $190.40 | $238.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Unity Healthcare Muscatine · Muscatine, IA CHG RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $190.40 | $238.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA CHG RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $190.40 | $238.00 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA MJFL Exam | $192.90 | $643.00 | Feb 15, 2026 source file |
| Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Storm Lake · Storm Lake, IA PR ESOPHOGRAM SGL CONTR STUDY | $195.20 | $244.00 | — source file |
| Winneshiek Medical Center Decorah · Decorah, IA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $201.60 | $288.00 | Jul 17, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa Corning · Corning, IA HC ESOPHAGRAM | $216.48 | $451.00 | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital of Missouri Valley, Iowa Missouri Valley · Omaha, NE-IA HC ESOPHAGRAM | $220.99 | $451.00 | Feb 28, 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 |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL GI Esophagram | $294.00 | $490.00 | Mar 31, 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 |
| Mercy Medical Center - Newton 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 |
| 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 |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HC ESOPHAGRAM | $358.68 | $854.00 | Feb 28, 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 |
| Mercy Medical Center - Dubuque Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC Xr Esophogram Chest Radiograph(S) & Delayed Images Single Contrast Study | $405.60 | $624.00 | Mar 31, 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 |
| St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital, Centerville Centerville · Centerville, IA HC Xr Esophogram Chest Radiograph(S) & Delayed Images Single Contrast Study | $520.00 | $520.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa 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 |
| 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 |
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 | 4 | $190.40 | $347.42 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3 | $190.40 | $294.00 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 3 | $192.90 | $220.99 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 3 | $176.60 | $665.60 |
| Clinton, IA | 2 | $321.60 | $368.48 |
| Dubuque, IA | 2 | $190.40 | $298.00 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $190.40 | $190.40 |
| Centerville, IA | 1 | $520.00 | $520.00 |
| Corning, IA | 1 | $216.48 | $216.48 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $190.40 | $190.40 |
| Decorah, IA | 1 | $201.60 | $201.60 |
| Estherville, IA | 1 | $566.48 | $566.48 |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $190.40 | $190.40 |
| Grinnell, IA | 1 | $190.40 | $190.40 |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $176.60 | $176.60 |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $369.20 | $369.20 |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $190.40 | $190.40 |
| Sheldon, IA | 1 | $744.00 | $744.00 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $190.40 | $190.40 |
| Storm Lake, IA | 1 | $195.20 | $195.20 |
| West Union, IA | 1 | $222.16 | $222.16 |
What it is
A barium swallow is a live X-ray of the esophagus while you drink barium. It shows narrowing, hernias and problems with how food passes.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the study and the barium. The radiologist's reading may be billed separately.
Barium swallow (esophagus X-ray with contrast) in other states
- Alabama$347.96
- Alaska$895.38
- Arizona$211.20
- Arkansas$217.67
- California$548.80
- Colorado$290.17
- Connecticut$521.27
- Delaware$416.23
- Florida$799.60
- Georgia$281.40
- Hawaii$257.40
- Idaho$589.00
- Illinois$429.26
- Indiana$484.15
- Kansas$449.80
- Kentucky$753.00
- Louisiana$207.18
- Maine$513.45
- Maryland$491.85
- Massachusetts$445.00
- Michigan$265.70
- Minnesota$291.97
- Mississippi$152.19
- Missouri$410.80
- Montana$364.20
- Nebraska$381.10
- Nevada$275.50
- New Hampshire$487.83
- New Jersey$209.65
- New Mexico$476.96
- New York$302.74
- North Carolina$425.03
- North Dakota$344.59
- Ohio$433.83
- Oklahoma$286.90
- Oregon$457.50
- Pennsylvania$427.80
- Puerto Rico$69.00
- Rhode Island$382.70
- South Carolina$452.50
- South Dakota$659.60
- Tennessee$108.75
- Texas$485.96
- Utah$430.35
- Vermont$807.14
- Virginia$451.50
- Washington$571.94
- West Virginia$360.00
- Wisconsin$399.78
- Wyoming$307.65
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.