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Esophagus Stretching Over a Guide Wire

Washington, DC 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?

$148

Typical physician fee. In Washington, DC, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $148 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $135 to $407.

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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,138 · 10th to 90th $479 to $16,218Professionalmedian $148 · 10th to 90th $126 to $479
$100$500$2K$10Kfacility $2,138professional $148

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
$147.91
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$4,073.80
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$478.63
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$239.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$29.51
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$95.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$354.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$23.99
Typical High
$70.79
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$14.79
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$47.86
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$173.78
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$426.58
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$707.95
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$537.03
Median
$2,511.89
Typical High
$27,542.29
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$691.83

Where Washington, DC sits

The same service costs 4.7 times more in Alaska than in Washington, DC. 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.

Washington, DC· 51st of 51

$148

AK $692DC $148

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.