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Esophagus Stretching Over a Guide Wire

Kentucky 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?

$1,292

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,292 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $170 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,122 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$170$141 to $251
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,122$525 to $2,042

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,122 · 10th to 90th $191 to $2,818Professionalmedian $170 · 10th to 90th $120 to $398
$50$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,122professional $170

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
$125.89
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$851.14
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$436.52
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$2,884.03
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$269.15
CareSource
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$1,445.44
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$190.55
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$1,000.00
Typical High
$1,318.26
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$1,995.26
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$457.09
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$2,454.71
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$416.87
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
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$81.28
Typical High
$218.78
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$89.13
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$331.13
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$23.99
Typical High
$66.07
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$16.22
Typical High
$43.65
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$218.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$89.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$331.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$26.92
Typical High
$66.07
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$17.78
Typical High
$43.65

Where Kentucky 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

Kentucky· 37th of 51

$1,292

$170 physician + $1,122 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.