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Esophagus Stretching Over a Guide Wire

Minnesota 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?

$1,307

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,307 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $437 to the doctor who performs it, and $871 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$437$251 to $851
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$871$372 to $1,585

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $871 · 10th to 90th $120 to $3,467Professionalmedian $437 · 10th to 90th $186 to $1,202
$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $871professional $437

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
$120.23
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$371.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$416.87
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$3,090.30
Typical High
$7,244.36
BCBS Minnesota
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$1,047.13
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$977.24
Typical High
$1,905.46
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$1,288.25
Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$912.01
Typical High
$1,584.89
Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$562.34
Typical High
$1,202.26
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$1,230.27
Typical High
$3,467.37
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$371.54
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$2,818.38
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$4,897.79
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$1,122.02
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
$60.26
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$186.21
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$23.99
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$74.13
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$275.42
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$18.20
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$54.95
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$12.02
Median
$37.15
Typical High
$37.15
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$208.93
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$23.99
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$83.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$309.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$18.20
Median
$52.48
Typical High
$61.66
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$12.02
Median
$34.67
Typical High
$41.69

Where Minnesota 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

Minnesota· 34th of 51

$1,307

$437 physician + $871 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.