Price Checker / CPT 74220
How much does X-ray Xm Esophagus 1cntrst cost?
CPT 74220 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 25x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$140–$280
What this should cost
With insurance
~$103,900
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$350
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $5,164 is $4,954 over the fair price (about 25x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for X-ray Xm Esophagus 1cntrst
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glen Cove Hospital , NY | — | $282 | 31958% |
| Cumberland Healthcare Cumberland, WI | $15,930 | — | 16813% |
| 23330 Emergency Center, LLC d/b/a/ Elite Hospital Kingwood Kingwood, TX | $3,048 | — | 3136% |
| Jeff Davis Hospital HAZLEHURST, GA | $2,397 | $839 | 2445% |
| Reeves Memorial Medical Center BERNICE, LA | $2,063 | $1,238 | 2090% |
| UM Upper Chesapeake Behavior Health Pavilion at Aberdeen , MD | $768 | — | 715% |
| Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics , WA | $655 | $524 | 595% |
| UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center Aberdeen Aberdeen, MD | $612 | — | 550% |
| UM Bowie Health Center Bowie, MD | $487 | — | 417% |
| Screven Hospital , GA | $516 | — | 335% |
| UM Shore Emergency Center at Queenstown Queenstown, MD | $132 | — | 40% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About X-ray Xm Esophagus 1cntrst
CPT code 74220 refers to x-ray xm esophagus 1cntrst (billing description: "X-ray xm esophagus 1cntrst"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $94 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $94 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.