go back

Esophagus Stretching Over a Guide Wire

Maine 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?

$1,568

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,568 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $309 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$309$170 to $513
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,259$1,000 to $1,380

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,259 · 10th to 90th $537 to $1,585Professionalmedian $309 · 10th to 90th $145 to $631
$100$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $1,259professional $309

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
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$436.52
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,023.29
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$1,023.29
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$691.83
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$537.03
Median
$1,202.26
Typical High
$1,621.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$707.95
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$1,584.89
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$776.25
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$436.52
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$933.25
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$1,584.89
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$630.96
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
$77.62
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$218.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$31.62
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$87.10
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$323.59
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$23.99
Typical High
$64.57
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$43.65
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$218.78
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$31.62
Median
$31.62
Typical High
$87.10
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$323.59
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$23.99
Typical High
$64.57
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$43.65

Where Maine 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

Maine· 24th of 51

$1,568

$309 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.