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Esophagus Stretching Over a Guide Wire

California 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?

$1,441

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,441 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $182 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,259 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 14 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$182$141 to $437
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,259$759 to $3,236

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,259 · 10th to 90th $537 to $6,026Professionalmedian $182 · 10th to 90th $123 to $1,202
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,259professional $182

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

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$5,370.32
Typical High
$15,848.93
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$147.91
Typical High
$512.86
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$9,549.93
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$436.52
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$4,897.79
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$467.74
Central California Alliance for Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$616.60
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$2,754.23
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$501.19
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$602.56
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$660.69
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,691.53
Median
$3,630.78
Typical High
$3,630.78
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$524.81
Optum
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$70.79
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$3,467.37
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$489.78
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$1,202.26
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$691.83
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$4,466.84
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$549.54
6 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
$63.10
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$173.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$69.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$263.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$19.95
Typical High
$52.48
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$13.49
Typical High
$34.67
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
59 · Distinct service
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$109.65

Where California 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

California· 28th of 51

$1,441

$182 physician + $1,259 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.