Barium swallow cost in Louisiana
In Louisiana, 57 hospitals publish a cash price for barium swallow (esophagus X-ray with contrast): from $82.60 to $2,048.87, with a median of $215.60. The lowest price is at Touro Infirmary (New Orleans). The highest price is 24.8× the lowest.
- The median here, $215.60, is 52% below the US median of $447.60.
- That is 1.2× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($179.20).
- Louisiana ranks 2nd of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 5 of 57 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 10, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$82.60Touro Infirmary
Median$215.60half of hospitals charge less
Highest$2,048.87in Louisiana
Lowest saves$133.00vs the median
Hospitals in Louisiana, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Touro Infirmary lowest New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA X-Ray of Esophagus | $82.60 | $590.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| St Charles Parish Hospital Luling · New Orleans-Metairie, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $97.74 | $362.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner Clinic Foundation New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $100.32 | $456.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Lafayette General Medical Center Lafayette · Lafayette, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $102.06 | $486.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Shreveport · Shreveport-Bossier City, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $105.56 | $406.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Acadia General Hospital Crowley · Lafayette, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $111.78 | $486.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport - St. Mary Medical Center Shreveport · Shreveport-Bossier City, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $113.68 | $406.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Leonard J Chabert Medical Center Houma · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $113.74 | $242.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Lasalle General Hospital Jena · Jena, LA XR SOFT TISSUE NECK 1V | $120.00 | $200.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner Kenner · New Orleans-Metairie, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $121.52 | $434.00 | Sep 16, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner University Hospital & Clinics Lafayette · Lafayette, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $126.36 | $486.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner Medical Center - Baton Rouge Baton Rouge · Baton Rouge, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $129.92 | $406.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Bernard Parish Hospital Chalmette · New Orleans-Metairie, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $134.08 | $419.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner St. Martin Hospital Breaux Bridge · Lafayette, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $145.80 | $486.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bayou Bend Health System Franklin · Morgan City, LA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $147.70 | $211.00 | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
| University Med Center New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA X-Ray of Esophagus | $148.50 | $675.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Glenwood Regional Medical Center - HSA West Monroe · Monroe, LA ESOPHOGRAM | $159.57 | $1,104.37 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Springhill Medical Center Springhill · Minden, LA XR ESOPHOGRAM | $163.20 | $479.99 | Mar 22, 2026 source file |
| New Orleans East Hospital New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA X-Ray of Esophagus | $163.36 | $1,021.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner LSU Health Monroe Monroe · Monroe, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $163.99 | $713.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner St Mary Morgan City · Baton Rouge, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $165.60 | $828.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Opelousas General Main Campus Opelousas · Opelousas, LA XR Esophagus | $169.00 | $338.00 | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| West Jefferson Medical Center Marrero · New Orleans-Metairie, LA X-Ray of Esophagus | $178.08 | $1,113.00 | Jun 30, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner American Legion Hospital Jennings · Lake Charles, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $182.92 | $538.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St. Frances Cabrini Hospital Alexandria · Alexandria, LA HC 74220 DX- ESOPHAGUS SINGLE CONTRAST STUDY | $185.90 | $715.00 | Jan 13, 2026 source file |
| Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center Independence · Hammond, LA X-RAY XM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $200.52 | $334.20 | Feb 24, 2026 source file |
| Richland Parish Hospital-Delhi Delhi · Monroe, LA Single contrast X-ray of esophagus | $209.95 | $323.00 | Oct 27, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Hospital New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA X-Ray of Esophagus | $213.84 | $792.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Natchitoches · Natchitoches, LA ESOPHAGUS | $215.60 | $539.00 | Mar 18, 2026 source file |
| Physicians Medical Center F Houma · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA Radiologic examination; orbits, complete, minimum of 4 views | $224.60 | $324.00 | Sep 24, 2026 source file |
| Minden Medical Center Minden · Minden, LA X-RAY XM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $236.85 | $789.50 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Franklin Medical Center Winnsboro · Winnsboro, LA XR Esophagus | $244.80 | $408.00 | May 21, 2026 source file |
| East Jefferson General Hospital Metairie · New Orleans-Metairie, LA X-Ray of Esophagus | $256.62 | $1,833.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakeside Hospital Metairie · New Orleans-Metairie, LA X-Ray of Esophagus | $256.62 | $1,833.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lakeview Hospital Covington · Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA X-Ray of Esophagus | $256.62 | $1,833.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Tulane Medical Center New Orleans · New Orleans-Metairie, LA X-Ray of Esophagus | $256.62 | $1,833.00 | Jun 25, 2026 source file |
| Ochsner St Anne General Hospital Raceland · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA HC XRAY, ESOPH, W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG, W/SNGL CONTRAST | $271.48 | $617.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Acadian Medical Center Eunice · Lafayette, LA X-RAY XM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $271.65 | $905.50 | Jun 9, 2026 source file |
| Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Lake Charles · Lake Charles, LA ESOPHOGRAM | $295.80 | $493.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Madison Parish Hospital Tallulah · Tallulah, LA ESOPHAGRAM:BA SWAL NO FL | $300.41 | $600.82 | May 19, 2026 source file |
| Lady of the Sea General Hospital Cut Off · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA BARIUM SWALLOW ESOPHAGRAM | $305.91 | $305.91 | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
| Bunkie General Hospital Bunkie · Bunkie, LA ESOPHOGRAM,TECHNICAL COMPONENT | $370.00 | $370.00 | Mar 16, 2026 source file |
| West Feliciana Parish Hospital St Francisville · Baton Rouge, LA ESOPHAGUS | $376.14 | $626.90 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Terrebonne General Medical Center - Parish Houma · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA HC XRAY ESOPH W/ SCOUT CHEST RADIOGRAPH/IMG W/SNGL | $380.14 | $513.50 | Feb 27, 2026 source file |
| St Helena Parish Hospital Greensburg · Baton Rouge, LA XR ESOPHAGUS | $385.00 | $385.00 | Jun 18, 2026 source file |
| Acadia St Landry Church Point · Lafayette, LA ESOPHAGRAM | $393.89 | $525.18 | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| North Oaks Medical Center Drive. Hammond · Hammond, LA Fl Esophagus; Single Contrast | $405.57 | $1,142.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Byrd Regional Hospital Leesville · Leesville, LA ESOPHAGRAM | $411.60 | $1,372.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| Monroe Surgical Hospital Monroe · Monroe, LA ESOPHAGUS | $415.37 | $553.82 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Baton Rouge General Medical Center Baton Rouge · Baton Rouge, LA X ESOPHAGRAM | $420.00 | $600.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Surgical Specialty Center Baton Rouge · Baton Rouge, LA ESOPHOGRAM | $489.00 | $652.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Louisiana Extended Care of Natchitoches Natchitoches · Natchitoches, LA ESOPHAGUS | $566.00 | $566.00 | Oct 25, 2026 source file |
| Willis Knighton Medical Center Shreveport · Shreveport-Bossier City, LA Esophogram (Ba Swallow) | $620.80 | $776.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Omega Hospital Metairie · New Orleans-Metairie, LA RADEX ESOPHAGUS | $655.85 | $1,124.31 | May 26, 2026 source file |
| Northern Louisiana Medical Center Ruston · Ruston, LA X-RAY XM ESOPHAGUS 1CNTRST | $675.40 | $1,228.00 | Jun 19, 2026 source file |
| Reeves Memorial Medical Center Bernice · Monroe, LA BARIUM SWALLOW | $1,083.00 | $2,166.00 | Aug 26, 2026 source file |
| Rapides Regional Medical Center Alexandria · Alexandria, LA Radiologic examination, esophagus, including scout chest radiograph(s) and delayed image(s), when performed; single-contrast (eg, barium) study | $2,048.87 | $2,048.87 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 13 | $82.60 | $163.36 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 6 | $129.92 | $380.57 |
| Lafayette, LA | 6 | $102.06 | $136.08 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | 5 | $113.74 | $271.48 |
| Monroe, LA | 5 | $159.57 | $209.95 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 3 | $105.56 | $113.68 |
| Alexandria, LA | 2 | $185.90 | $1,117.38 |
| Hammond, LA | 2 | $200.52 | $303.04 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 2 | $182.92 | $239.36 |
| Minden, LA | 2 | $163.20 | $200.02 |
| Natchitoches, LA | 2 | $215.60 | $390.80 |
| Bunkie, LA | 1 | $370.00 | $370.00 |
| Jena, LA | 1 | $120.00 | $120.00 |
| Leesville, LA | 1 | $411.60 | $411.60 |
| Morgan City, LA | 1 | $147.70 | $147.70 |
| Opelousas, LA | 1 | $169.00 | $169.00 |
| Ruston, LA | 1 | $675.40 | $675.40 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | 1 | $256.62 | $256.62 |
| Tallulah, LA | 1 | $300.41 | $300.41 |
| Winnsboro, LA | 1 | $244.80 | $244.80 |
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
- Iowa$364.41
- Kansas$422.45
- Kentucky$437.32
- 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.