Joint injection (medium joint) cost in Austin, TX
In Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, 23 hospitals list a cash price for joint injection or drainage, medium joint (wrist, elbow, ankle): from $74.79 to $1,162.00, with a median of $907.51. The lowest listed price is at Ascension Seton Smithville and 2 other hospitals — $832.72 less than the median here. Across Texas, the median is $592.94 at 237 hospitals.
- The median here, $907.51, is 140% above the US median of $378.51.
- That is 2.9× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($313.60).
- Austin, TX ranks 3rd of 4 metro areas in Texas by median, cheapest first.
- 5 of 23 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 23 facilities across 13 cities for code 20605, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Nov 11, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Sep 2, 2024 and Oct 30, 2026.
Lowest$74.79Ascension Seton Smithville + 2 more
Median$907.51half of hospitals charge less
Highest$1,162.00in this market
Difference15.5×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.
median
Lowest $74.79Highest $1,180.54
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension Seton Smithville lowest Smithville, TX · (512) 237-3214 MRI ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA PEDI+5 more lines at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $74.79 | $207.75 | $17.00–$64.40 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Williamson lowest Round Rock, TX · (512) 324-0000 MRI ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA PEDI+2 more lines at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $74.79 | $207.75 | $17.00–$64.40 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Hays lowest Kyle, TX · (512) 324-5000 XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA PEDI+5 more lines at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $74.79 | $207.75 | $17.00–$64.40 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Austin, TX CT ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA PEDI+2 more lines at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $145.43 | $207.75 | $18.71–$64.40 | 30% |
| Ascension Seton Hays one side Kyle, TX · (512) 324-5000 XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA LT+3 more lines at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $187.92 | $522.00 | $17.00–$216.18 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Smithville one side Smithville, TX · (512) 237-3214 XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA LT+3 more lines at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $187.92 | $522.00 | $17.00–$216.18 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Williamson one side Round Rock, TX · (512) 324-0000 XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA LT+1 more line at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $187.92 | $522.00 | $17.00–$216.18 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Williamson Round Rock, TX · (512) 324-0000 CT ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA+2 more lines at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $210.60 | $585.00 | $17.00–$216.18 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin Austin, TX · (512) 324-1000 XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA+5 more lines at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $210.60 | $585.00 | $17.00–$216.18 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Southwest Austin, TX · (512) 324-9000 MRI ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA+2 more lines at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $210.60 | $585.00 | $18.71–$216.18 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Northwest Austin, TX · (512) 324-6000 XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA+5 more lines at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $210.60 | $585.00 | $17.00–$216.18 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Smithville Smithville, TX · (512) 237-3214 XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA+1 more line at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $210.60 | $585.00 | $17.00–$216.18 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Hays Kyle, TX · (512) 324-5000 XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA+5 more lines at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $210.60 | $585.00 | $17.00–$216.18 | 64% |
| Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Tx Austin, TX · (512) 324-7000 XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA+2 more lines at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $210.60 | $585.00 | $18.71–$216.18 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin one side Austin, TX · (512) 324-1000 XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA LT+3 more lines at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $265.23 | $736.75 | $17.00–$228.39 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Southwest one side Austin, TX · (512) 324-9000 XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA RT+1 more line at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $265.23 | $736.75 | $18.71–$228.39 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Northwest one side Austin, TX · (512) 324-6000 XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA RT+3 more lines at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $265.23 | $736.75 | $17.00–$228.39 | 64% |
| Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Tx one side Austin, TX · (512) 324-7000 XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA RT+1 more line at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $265.23 | $736.75 | $18.71–$228.39 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton Edgar B Davis Luling, TX · (830) 875-7000 XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $301.68 | $838.00 | $18.71–$259.78 | 64% |
| Ascension Seton one side Austin, TX XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA RT+1 more line at this price File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $365.40 | $522.00 | $18.71–$216.18 | 30% |
| Ascension Seton Austin, TX XR ASP/INJ MED JNT/BURSA File of Jan 1, 2026 · source file | $409.50 | $585.00 | $18.71–$216.18 | 30% |
| The Hospital at Westlake Medical Center Austin, TX · (512) 327-0000 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US+1 more line at this price File of Sep 2, 2024 · source file | $572.20 | $1,630.28 | $17.15–$1,875.00 | 65% |
| Texas Children's Hospital - Austin Austin, TX · (832) 824-1100 TC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR INJ INTERM JT BURS W/O US File of Mar 5, 2026 · source file | $732.31 | $1,093.00 | $23.54–$1,038.35 | 33% |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Austin Austin, TX · (512) 654-2100 HC DRAIN/INJECTECT INTMED JOINT/BURS+3 more lines at this price File of Jun 13, 2026 · source file | $907.51 | $1,512.52 | $23.54–$3,500.00 | 40% |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Round Rock Round Rock, TX · (512) 509-0401 HC ARTHR ASP INJ INT JNT BUR+3 more lines at this price File of Jun 13, 2026 · source file | $907.51 | $1,512.52 | $23.54–$3,500.00 | 40% |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Round Rock one side Round Rock, TX · (512) 509-0401 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US - LT+3 more lines at this price File of Jun 13, 2026 · source file | $907.51 | $1,512.52 | $23.54–$3,500.00 | 40% |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Lakeway Lakeway, TX · (512) 509-0401 HC ARTHR ASP INJ INT JNT BUR+3 more lines at this price File of Jun 13, 2026 · source file | $907.51 | $1,512.52 | $23.54–$3,500.00 | 40% |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Lakeway one side Lakeway, TX · (512) 509-0401 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US - LT+3 more lines at this price File of Jun 13, 2026 · source file | $907.51 | $1,512.52 | $23.54–$3,500.00 | 40% |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Buda Buda, TX · (737) 999-6200 HC ARTHR ASP INJ INT JNT BUR+3 more lines at this price File of Jun 13, 2026 · source file | $907.51 | $1,512.52 | $23.54–$3,500.00 | 40% |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Buda one side Buda, TX · (737) 999-6200 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US - LT+3 more lines at this price File of Jun 13, 2026 · source file | $907.51 | $1,512.52 | $23.54–$3,500.00 | 40% |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Pflugerville Pflugerville, TX · (512) 654-6100 HC ARTHR ASP INJ INT JNT BUR+3 more lines at this price File of Jun 13, 2026 · source file | $907.51 | $1,512.52 | $23.54–$3,500.00 | 40% |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Pflugerville one side Pflugerville, TX · (512) 654-6100 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US - LT+3 more lines at this price File of Jun 13, 2026 · source file | $907.51 | $1,512.52 | $23.54–$3,500.00 | 40% |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Austin one side Austin, TX · (512) 654-2100 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US - LT+3 more lines at this price File of Jun 13, 2026 · source file | $907.51 | $1,512.52 | $23.54–$3,500.00 | 40% |
| Baylor Scott & White Emergency Medical Center - Cedar Park Cedar Park, TX · (512) 509-0401 HC ARTHR ASP INJ INT JNT BUR+3 more lines at this price File of Jun 3, 2026 · source file | $907.51 | $1,512.52 | $323.77–$983.14 | 40% |
| Baylor Scott & White Emergency Medical Center - Cedar Park one side Cedar Park, TX · (512) 509-0401 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US - LT+3 more lines at this price File of Jun 3, 2026 · source file | $907.51 | $1,512.52 | $323.77–$983.14 | 40% |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Taylor one side Taylor, TX · (512) 352-7611 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US+3 more lines at this price File of Oct 30, 2026 · source file | $943.81 | $1,573.02 | $25.19–$3,875.00 | 40% |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Taylor Taylor, TX · (512) 352-7611 HC ARTHR ASP INJ INT JNT BUR+3 more lines at this price File of Oct 30, 2026 · source file | $943.81 | $1,573.02 | $25.19–$3,875.00 | 40% |
| St. David's Medical Center one side Manor, TX · (512) 476-7111 ARTH JNTBRS INT WO US LT+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,106.00 | $1,106.00 | $188.02–$995.40 | — |
| Heart Hosp of Austin at St. David's Round Rock one side Round Rock, TX ARTH JNTBRS INT WO US RT+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,106.00 | $1,106.00 | $188.02–$940.10 | — |
| St. David's Georgetown Hospital one side Georgetown, TX · (512) 476-7111 ARTH JNTBRS INT WO US LT+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,106.00 | $1,106.00 | $188.02–$940.10 | — |
| Heart Hosp of Austin one side Austin, TX ARTH JNTBRS INT WO US RT+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,106.00 | $1,106.00 | $188.02–$940.10 | — |
| St. David's Round Rock Medical Center one side Leander, TX · (512) 341-1000 ARTH JNTBRS INT WO US RT+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,162.00 | $1,162.00 | $197.54–$1,045.80 | — |
| St. David's Round Rock Medical Center Leander, TX · (512) 341-1000 ARTH JNT BRS INT WO US File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,162.00 | $1,162.00 | $783.19 | — |
| Texas Children's Hospital - Austin Austin, TX · (832) 824-1100 TC ARTHROCENTESIS/ASPIRATION & OR INJ MED JOINT WITHOUT US GUIDE (CT)+1 more line at this price File of Mar 5, 2026 · source file | $1,179.20 | $1,760.00 | $23.54–$1,672.00 | 33% |
| Texas Children's Hospital - Austin Austin, TX · (832) 824-1100 TC ARTHROCENTESIS/ASPIRATION & OR INJ MED JOINT WITHOUT US GUIDE (R/F) File of Mar 5, 2026 · source file | $1,180.54 | $1,762.00 | $23.54–$1,673.90 | 33% |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Outpatient: lowest $74.79, median $907.51, highest $1,162.00 — a 15.5× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 12 facilities here, median $907.51. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 13 of 23 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What joint injection (medium joint) is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Joint injection (medium joint) explained.