Joint injection (medium joint) cost in Fargo, ND — inpatient
In Fargo, ND-MN, 2 hospitals list a cash price for joint injection or drainage, medium joint (wrist, elbow, ankle) as an inpatient: from $309.75 to $1,042.40, with a median of $676.08. The lowest listed price is at Essentia Health Fargo — $366.33 less than the median here. Across North Dakota, the median is $254.33 at 8 hospitals.
Cash prices at 2 facilities for code 20605, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 1, 2026 and Mar 4, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Fargo, ND-MN.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essentia Health Fargo lowest Fargo, ND · (701) 364-8000 DRAIN/IN MEDIUM JOINT/BURSA(T) | $309.75 | $413.00 | $177.14–$351.05 | 25% | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Fargo Medical Center Fargo, ND · (701) 234-2000 SURG 20605 ARTHROCENTESIS ASP INJ INTRM JNT BURSA WO US GUID | $1,042.40 | $1,303.00 | $716.65–$1,172.70 | 20% | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Fargo Medical Center Fargo, ND · (701) 234-2000 ED 20605 ASP INJ JOINT BURSA INTERMED WO US GUID | $1,042.40 | $1,303.00 | $716.65–$1,172.70 | 20% | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Fargo Medical Center Fargo, ND · (701) 234-2000 TX RM 20605 ARTHRO ASP INJ JOINT BURSA INTERMED WO US GUID | $1,042.40 | $1,303.00 | $716.65–$1,172.70 | 20% | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $309.75, median $676.08, highest $1,042.40 — a 3.4× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $676.08 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 2 of 2 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 it is
This code covers injecting or draining a medium-sized joint such as the wrist, elbow or ankle.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the procedure. The medicine and imaging guidance are billed separately.