go back

Esophagus Stretching Over a Guide Wire

Maryland 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?

$162

Typical physician fee. In Maryland, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $162 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $135 to $398.

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.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $832 · 10th to 90th $339 to $1,549Professionalmedian $151 · 10th to 90th $126 to $479
$200$500$1Kfacility $832professional $151

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
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$478.63
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$239.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$28.84
Median
$35.48
Typical High
$95.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$354.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$26.30
Typical High
$70.79
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$17.78
Typical High
$47.86
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$173.78
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$912.01
Typical High
$1,621.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$436.52
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$331.13
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$660.69
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$1,380.38
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$512.86
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$562.34

Where Maryland 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.

Maryland· 50th of 51

$162

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.