Barium swallow cost in Kentucky
In Kentucky, 74 hospitals publish a cash price for barium swallow (esophagus X-ray with contrast): from $127.46 to $1,740.35, with a median of $437.32. The lowest price is at Jennie Stuart Medical Center (Hopkinsville). The highest price is 13.7× the lowest.
- The median here, $437.32, is about the same as the US median of $445.39.
- That is 2.4× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($179.20).
- Kentucky ranks 22nd of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 5 of 74 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 11, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$127.46Jennie Stuart Medical Center
Median$437.32half of hospitals charge less
Highest$1,740.35in Kentucky
Lowest saves$309.86vs the median
Hospitals in Kentucky, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennie Stuart Medical Center lowest Hopkinsville · Clarksville, TN-KY HC XR EXAM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $127.46 | $411.15 | Feb 12, 2026 source file |
| Wayne County Hospital Monticello · Monticello, KY ESOPHAGUS | $142.94 | $219.90 | Sep 14, 2026 source file |
| Fleming County Hospital Flemingsburg · Flemingsburg, KY Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $168.10 | $420.26 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Norton Audubon Hospital Louisville · Louisville, KY HB ESOPHAGUS | $209.60 | $1,048.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton Brownsboro Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB ESOPHAGUS | $209.60 | $1,048.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton Children's Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB ESOPHAGUS | $209.60 | $1,048.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB ESOPHAGUS | $209.60 | $1,048.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton West Louisville Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB ESOPHAGUS | $209.60 | $1,048.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Norton Women's and Kosair Children's Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HB ESOPHAGUS | $209.60 | $1,048.00 | Feb 13, 2026 source file |
| University of Louisville Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN CR ESOPHAGRAM | $218.88 | $912.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Casey County Hospital Liberty · Liberty, KY ESOPHAGRAM | $232.00 | $290.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| T J Samson Community Hospital Glasgow · Glasgow, KY Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $252.20 | $388.00 | Oct 21, 2026 source file |
| Bluegrass Community Hospital Versailles · Lexington-Fayette, KY Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $252.89 | $632.23 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Ohio County Hospital Hartford · Hartford, KY ESOPHAGRAM W/FL SCOUT/DELAYS | $270.00 | $540.00 | Jan 12, 2026 source file |
| Carroll County Memorial Hospital Carrollton · Carrollton, KY BARIUM SWALLOW ESOPHAGUS | $270.12 | $450.20 | Aug 17, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville Madisonville · Madisonville, KY HC XR EXAM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $271.70 | $2,089.98 | Feb 3, 2026 source file |
| Monroe County Medical Center Tompkinsville · Tompkinsville, KY Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $278.47 | $335.50 | Oct 8, 2026 source file |
| Cumberland County Hospital Burkesville · Burkesville, KY BA SWALLOW/ESOPHAGUS | $285.75 | $381.00 | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Livingston Hospital and Healthcare Services Salem · Paducah, KY-IL XR Esophagus | $287.85 | $479.75 | Aug 25, 2026 source file |
| Deaconess Henderson Hospital Henderson · Henderson, KY HC XR EXAM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $293.70 | $979.00 | Feb 9, 2026 source file |
| Breckinridge Memorial Hospital Hardinsburg · Hardinsburg, KY Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $312.00 | $624.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Saints Mary & Elizabeth Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN CR ESOPHAGRAM | $328.32 | $912.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Harrison Memorial Hospital Cynthiana · Cynthiana, KY X-RAY XM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $342.48 | $489.25 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| University of Kentucky Hospital Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY Hc Esophagram - Fl Esophagus Barium Swallow | $343.17 | $857.92 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Albany Albany · Albany, KY FL X-RAY XM ESOPH 1CNTRST | $344.40 | $574.00 | Jul 1, 2024 source file |
| The Medical Center at Caverna Horse Cave · Horse Cave, KY FL X-RAY XM ESOPH 1CNTRST | $344.40 | $574.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UofL Health -Shelbyville Shelbyville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN CR ESOPHAGRAM | $346.56 | $912.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Tug Valley Appalachian Regional Healthcare Regional Medical Center South Williamson · Pikeville, KY XR ESOPHAGUS INC SCOUT 1 CONTR | $351.00 | $585.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph Mount Sterling Mt. Sterling · Mount Sterling, KY HC Xr Esophagus Single Contrast | $378.08 | $1,001.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Rockcastle County Hospital Mount Vernon · Richmond-Berea, KY Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $381.52 | $502.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Deaconess Union County Hospital Morganfield · Morganfield, KY HC XR EXAM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $383.99 | $817.00 | Feb 13, 2026 source file |
| Clark Regional Medical Center Winchester · Lexington-Fayette, KY Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $393.32 | $983.30 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| CHI Saint Joseph Berea Nf Berea · Richmond-Berea, KY HC Xr Esophagus Single Contrast | $403.59 | $833.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| UofL Health - Jewish Hospital and Mary & Elizabeth Hospital Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN CR ESOPHAGRAM | $410.40 | $912.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Scottsville Scottsville · Bowling Green, KY FL X-RAY XM ESOPH 1CNTRST | $413.40 | $689.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Jackson Purchase Medical Center Mayfield · Mayfield, KY Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $420.99 | $1,052.48 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Bowling Green Bowling Green · Bowling Green, KY FL X-RAY XM ESOPH 1CNTRST | $426.18 | $821.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph London London · Corbin, KY HC Xr Esophagus Single Contrast | $448.45 | $1,278.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph East Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY HC Xr Esophagus Single Contrast | $477.85 | $1,138.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Manchester Manchester · Corbin, KY HC RADIOLOGIC EXAM ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $486.24 | $486.24 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Claire Medical Center Morehead · Morehead, KY Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $510.00 | $680.00 | Jun 18, 2026 source file |
| Our Lady of Peace Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN CR ESOPHAGRAM | $512.54 | $912.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| CHI Saint Joseph Flaget Memorial Hospital Bardstown · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN HC Xr Esophagus Single Contrast | $539.32 | $1,278.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph Hospital Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY HC Xr Esophagus Single Contrast | $540.44 | $1,138.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Middlesboro Arh Hospital Middlesboro · Middlesborough, KY XR ESOPHAGUS INC SCOUT 1 CONTR | $552.60 | $921.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Whitesburg Arh Hospital Whitesburg · Whitesburg, KY XR ESOPHAGUS INC SCOUT 1 CONTR | $567.00 | $945.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| King's Daughters' Medical Center Ashland · Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HCHG BA SWAL/ESOPHAGUS | $569.40 | $1,423.48 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Hazard Appalachian Regional Healthcare Regional Medical Center Hazard · Hazard, KY XR ESOPHAGUS INC SCOUT 1 CONTR | $574.20 | $957.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Knox County Hospital Barbourville · Corbin, KY XR ESOPHAGUS INC SCOUT 1 CONTR | $606.00 | $1,010.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Joseph Hospital Nicholasville · Lexington-Fayette, KY HC Xr Esophagus Single Contrast | $610.42 | $1,138.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Spring View Hospital Lebanon · Lebanon, KY Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $631.02 | $1,577.55 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital Paducah · Paducah, KY-IL HC Fluro Esophagram | $634.80 | $1,058.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Pineville Community Health Center Pineville · Middlesborough, KY Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $640.64 | $640.64 | Jan 24, 2026 source file |
| Georgetown Community Hospital Georgetown · Lexington-Fayette, KY Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $702.02 | $1,755.06 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Bourbon Community Hospital Paris · Lexington-Fayette, KY Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $711.11 | $1,777.77 | Jul 11, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Edgewood Edgewood · Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HB ESOPHAGUS | $714.81 | $714.81 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Harlan Arh Hospital Harlan · Harlan, KY XR ESOPHAGUS INC SCOUT 1 CONTR | $721.20 | $1,202.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Highlands Arh Regional Medical Center Prestonsburg · Pikeville, KY XR ESOPHAGUS INC SCOUT 1 CONTR | $721.20 | $1,202.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Paintsville Arh Hospital Paintsville · Paintsville, KY XR ESOPHAGUS INC SCOUT 1 CONTR | $721.20 | $1,202.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Murray-Calloway County Public Hospital Murray · Murray, KY Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $740.35 | $1,139.00 | Sep 9, 2026 source file |
| Meadowview Regional Medical Center Maysville · Maysville, KY Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $746.91 | $1,867.28 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Marcum and Wallace Memorial Hospital Irvine · Richmond-Berea, KY HC Fluro Esophagram | $753.00 | $1,255.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Medical Center at Russellville Russellville · Russellville, KY FL X-RAY XM ESOPH 1CNTRST | $820.00 | $1,366.66 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kentucky River Medical Center Jackson · Jackson, KY Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $901.07 | $1,501.79 | Sep 17, 2026 source file |
| Three Rivers Medical Center Louisa · Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $1,122.00 | $1,870.00 | Sep 17, 2026 source file |
| Tristar Greenview Regional Hospital Bowling Green · Bowling Green, KY XR ESOPHAGUS | $1,372.76 | $1,372.76 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Corbin Corbin · Corbin, KY Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $1,555.49 | $2,073.99 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Hardin Elizabethtown · Elizabethtown, KY Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $1,555.49 | $2,073.99 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health LaGrange La Grange · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $1,555.49 | $2,073.99 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Lexington Lexington · Lexington-Fayette, KY Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $1,555.49 | $2,073.99 | Sep 28, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Louisville Louisville · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $1,555.49 | $2,073.99 | Sep 25, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Paducah Paducah · Paducah, KY-IL Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $1,555.49 | $2,073.99 | Sep 28, 2026 source file |
| Baptist Health Richmond Richmond · Richmond-Berea, KY Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $1,555.49 | $2,073.99 | Sep 28, 2026 source file |
| Frankfort Regional Medical Center Frankfort · Frankfort, KY XR ESOPHAGUS | $1,740.35 | $1,740.35 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 13 | $209.60 | $328.32 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 9 | $252.89 | $540.44 |
| Corbin, KY | 4 | $448.45 | $546.12 |
| Richmond-Berea, KY | 4 | $381.52 | $578.30 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 3 | $413.40 | $426.18 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 3 | $287.85 | $634.80 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 2 | $569.40 | $845.70 |
| Middlesborough, KY | 2 | $552.60 | $596.62 |
| Pikeville, KY | 2 | $351.00 | $536.10 |
| Albany, KY | 1 | $344.40 | $344.40 |
| Burkesville, KY | 1 | $285.75 | $285.75 |
| Carrollton, KY | 1 | $270.12 | $270.12 |
| Cynthiana, KY | 1 | $342.48 | $342.48 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1 | $714.81 | $714.81 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 1 | $127.46 | $127.46 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 1 | $1,555.49 | $1,555.49 |
| Flemingsburg, KY | 1 | $168.10 | $168.10 |
| Frankfort, KY | 1 | $1,740.35 | $1,740.35 |
| Glasgow, KY | 1 | $252.20 | $252.20 |
| Hardinsburg, KY | 1 | $312.00 | $312.00 |
| Harlan, KY | 1 | $721.20 | $721.20 |
| Hartford, KY | 1 | $270.00 | $270.00 |
| Hazard, KY | 1 | $574.20 | $574.20 |
| Horse Cave, KY | 1 | $344.40 | $344.40 |
| Henderson, KY | 1 | $293.70 | $293.70 |
| Jackson, KY | 1 | $901.07 | $901.07 |
| Lebanon, KY | 1 | $631.02 | $631.02 |
| Liberty, KY | 1 | $232.00 | $232.00 |
| Louisville, KY | 1 | $209.60 | $209.60 |
| Maysville, KY | 1 | $746.91 | $746.91 |
| Monticello, KY | 1 | $142.94 | $142.94 |
| Morehead, KY | 1 | $510.00 | $510.00 |
| Morganfield, KY | 1 | $383.99 | $383.99 |
| Madisonville, KY | 1 | $271.70 | $271.70 |
| Mayfield, KY | 1 | $420.99 | $420.99 |
| Mount Sterling, KY | 1 | $378.08 | $378.08 |
| Murray, KY | 1 | $740.35 | $740.35 |
| Paintsville, KY | 1 | $721.20 | $721.20 |
| Russellville, KY | 1 | $820.00 | $820.00 |
| Tompkinsville, KY | 1 | $278.47 | $278.47 |
| Whitesburg, KY | 1 | $567.00 | $567.00 |
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$338.23
- 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$462.00
- Iowa$364.41
- Kansas$422.45
- Louisiana$215.60
- Maine$361.59
- Maryland$573.68
- Massachusetts$535.50
- Michigan$289.25
- Minnesota$309.81
- Mississippi$217.00
- 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$288.87
- 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$556.00
- West Virginia$368.51
- Wisconsin$530.00
- Wyoming$456.57
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.