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Esophagus Stretching Over a Guide Wire

Alaska rates for HCPCS 43226

A flexible scope is passed through the mouth into the food pipe, a guide wire is threaded through the narrowed section, and tapered dilators are passed over that wire to stretch the narrowing open. The wire keeps the dilators on a safe path through the tight segment. It relieves food sticking and difficulty swallowing.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Esophagus Stretching Over a Guide Wire cost?

$2,700

Typical total for the visit. In Alaska, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,700 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $562 to the doctor who performs it, and $2,138 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$562$355 to $1,549
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$2,138$1,738 to $4,169

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,138 · 10th to 90th $977 to $5,888Professionalmedian $562 · 10th to 90th $162 to $1,905
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $2,138professional $562

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$691.83
Median
$5,888.44
Typical High
$14,125.38
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$1,905.46
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$2,290.87
Typical High
$5,248.07
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$1,096.48
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$2,691.53
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$691.83
Typical High
$1,905.46
Premera BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$2,454.71
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$1,548.82
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$977.24
Median
$2,238.72
Typical High
$5,248.07
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$1,071.52
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,096.48
Median
$3,162.28
Typical High
$4,265.80
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$1,148.15
10 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$954.99
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$26.92
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$380.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$1,412.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$19.95
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$288.40
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$13.49
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$190.55
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$954.99
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$380.19
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$524.81
Typical High
$1,412.54
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$24.55
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$288.40
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$16.60
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$190.55

Where Alaska sits

The same service costs 5.7 times more in Colorado than in Montana. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Physician feeFacility fee

Alaska· 7th of 51

$2,700

$562 physician + $2,138 facility

CO $4,090MT $722

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.