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X-ray Of The Esophagus (Barium Swallow)

Tennessee rates for HCPCS 74220

This X-ray study captures images of the esophagus, the tube connecting the throat to the stomach, while the patient swallows a contrast liquid that outlines its inner lining on the images. It helps identify narrowing, blockages, abnormal pouches, or problems with the swallowing motion itself. The exam is typically performed in a radiology suite while the radiologist watches the swallowed contrast move down the esophagus in real time.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does X-ray Of The Esophagus (Barium Swallow) cost?

$115

Typical negotiated rate. In Tennessee, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $115 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $112 from a physician practice, and about $162 from a hospital or other facility.

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.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$112$85.11 to $646
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$162$148 to $224

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $162 · 10th to 90th $95 to $302Professionalmedian $112 · 10th to 90th $76 to $813
$100$200$500facility $162professional $112

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
$81.28
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$138.04
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$97.72
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$134.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$38.02
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$58.88
Typical High
$93.33
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$162.18
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$46.77
BCBS Tennessee
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$199.53
BCBS Tennessee
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$26.30
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$63.10
BCBS Tennessee
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$141.25
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$316.23
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$181.97
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$28.84
Typical High
$58.88
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$61.66
Typical High
$128.82
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$645.65
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$812.83
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$181.97
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$229.09
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$467.74
Typical High
$575.44
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$91.20
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$97.72
Typical High
$181.97
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$22.39
Median
$29.51
Typical High
$60.26
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$48.98
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$125.89
3 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
$40.74
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$47.86
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$16.22
Median
$16.98
Typical High
$19.05
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FX · Film X-ray
Typical Low
$64.57
Median
$64.57
Typical High
$74.13

Where Tennessee sits

The same service costs 3.8 times more in Alaska than in Utah. 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.

Tennessee· 23rd of 51

$115

AK $282UT $74.13

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.