Joint injection (medium joint) cost in Los Angeles, CA — inpatient
In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, 24 hospitals list a cash price for joint injection or drainage, medium joint (wrist, elbow, ankle) as an inpatient: from $196.00 to $3,910.25, with a median of $608.40. The lowest listed price is at Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center — $412.40 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $608.40 at 89 hospitals.
Cash prices at 24 facilities across 19 cities for code 20605, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Nov 26, 2025 and Jul 27, 2026.
Lowest$196.00Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center
Median$608.40half pay less
Highest$3,910.25in this market
Difference20.0×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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA.
median
Lowest $196.00Highest $3,910.25
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center lowest Tarzana, CA · (818) 881-0800 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERM W/O ULTRASOUND GUIDANCE | $196.00 | $560.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center lowest Tarzana, CA · (818) 881-0800 HC ED ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US CDM | $196.00 | $560.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center lowest Tarzana, CA · (818) 881-0800 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERMED | $196.00 | $560.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UCI Health-Orange Orange, CA · (714) 456-7890 HB ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US | $245.20 | $613.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance Torrance, CA · (310) 540-7676 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERM W/O ULTRASOUND GUIDANCE | $280.00 | $800.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Little Co of Mary Medical Center San Pedro San Pedro, CA · (310) 832-3311 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERMED | $280.00 | $800.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Little Co of Mary Medical Center San Pedro San Pedro, CA · (310) 832-3311 HC ED ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US CDM | $280.00 | $800.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance Torrance, CA · (310) 540-7676 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERMED | $280.00 | $800.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance Torrance, CA · (310) 540-7676 HC ED ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US CDM | $280.00 | $800.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Little Co of Mary Medical Center San Pedro San Pedro, CA · (310) 832-3311 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERM W/O ULTRASOUND GUIDANCE | $280.00 | $800.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Jude Hospital Fullerton, CA · (714) 992-3000 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERM W/O ULTRASOUND GUIDANCE | $325.92 | $679.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Jude Hospital Fullerton, CA · (714) 992-3000 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERMED | $325.92 | $679.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Jude Hospital Fullerton, CA · (714) 992-3000 HC ED ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US CDM | $325.92 | $679.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Mission Hills, CA · (818) 365-8051 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERM W/O ULTRASOUND GUIDANCE | $480.90 | $1,374.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Mission Hills, CA · (818) 365-8051 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERMED | $480.90 | $1,374.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Mission Hills, CA · (818) 365-8051 HC ED ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US CDM | $480.90 | $1,374.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank, CA · (818) 843-5111 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERM W/O ULTRASOUND GUIDANCE | $522.55 | $1,493.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank, CA · (818) 843-5111 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERMED | $522.55 | $1,493.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank, CA · (818) 843-5111 HC ED ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US CDM | $522.55 | $1,493.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - West la Los Angeles, CA · (213) 857-2201 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US | $608.40 | $1,170.00 | $293.00–$871.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park Baldwin Park, CA · (626) 851-1011 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US | $608.40 | $1,170.00 | $293.00–$871.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim Anaheim, CA · (714) 279-4000 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US | $608.40 | $1,170.00 | $293.00–$871.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Downey Downey, CA · (562) 461-6007 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US | $608.40 | $1,170.00 | $293.00–$871.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Panorama City Panorama City, CA · (818) 375-2000 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US | $608.40 | $1,170.00 | $293.00–$871.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Bay Harbor City, CA · (310) 325-5111 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US | $608.40 | $1,170.00 | $293.00–$871.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · (323) 783-4011 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US | $608.40 | $1,170.00 | $293.00–$871.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Woodland Hills Woodland Hills, CA · (818) 719-3800 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US | $608.40 | $1,170.00 | $293.00–$871.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Irvine Irvine, CA ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US | $608.40 | $1,170.00 | $293.00–$871.00 | 48% | — source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital Marina del Rey, CA · (310) 823-8911 HB DRAIN/INJ INTERM JOINT/BURSA WO US | $709.34 | $1,091.29 | $367.57–$9,712.00 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Saint John's Health Center Santa Monica, CA · (310) 829-5511 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERM W/O ULTRASOUND GUIDANCE | $779.80 | $2,228.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint John's Health Center Santa Monica, CA · (310) 829-5511 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERMED | $779.80 | $2,228.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint John's Health Center Santa Monica, CA · (310) 829-5511 HC ED ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US CDM | $779.80 | $2,228.00 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 364-1400 HC ED ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US CDM | $844.80 | $1,760.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 364-1400 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERMED | $844.80 | $1,760.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 364-1400 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERM W/O ULTRASOUND GUIDANCE | $844.80 | $1,760.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Joseph Hospital of Orange Orange, CA · (714) 633-9111 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERM W/O ULTRASOUND GUIDANCE | $1,037.76 | $2,162.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Joseph Hospital of Orange Orange, CA · (714) 633-9111 HC ED ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US CDM | $1,037.76 | $2,162.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Joseph Hospital of Orange Orange, CA · (714) 633-9111 HC DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA INTERMED | $1,037.76 | $2,162.00 | — | 52% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| USC Arcadia Hospital one side Arcadia, CA · (626) 898-8000 X/S-IR-ARTHROCENT:I.JOINT-LT | $1,092.35 | $3,121.00 | $2,340.75–$3,121.00 | 65% | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| USC Arcadia Hospital Arcadia, CA · (626) 898-8000 ARTHROCEN/ASP/INJ MED JOINT WO | $1,092.35 | $3,121.00 | $2,340.75–$3,121.00 | 65% | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| USC Arcadia Hospital one side Arcadia, CA · (626) 898-8000 X/S-IR-ARTHROCENT:I.JOINT-RT | $1,092.35 | $3,121.00 | $2,340.75–$3,121.00 | 65% | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| USC Kenneth Norris Jr Cancer Hospital Los Angeles, CA Arthrocentesis Aspir+/Inj Interm Jt/Burs W/O Us | $1,500.00 | $1,500.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 HB DRAIN/INJ INTERM JOINT/BURSA WO US | $2,129.91 | $3,276.78 | $367.57–$14,761.00 | 35% | Nov 26, 2025 source file |
| Keck Hospital of USC Los Angeles, CA · (323) 442-8656 Arthrocentesis Aspir+/Inj Interm Jt/Burs W/O Us | $3,910.25 | $3,910.25 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $196.00, median $608.40, highest $3,910.25 — a 20.0× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 27 facilities here, median $608.40 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 12 of 12 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 1 it is 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.
1 row held back from this comparison
It is priced below $1 or below a tenth of the national median for code 20605 ($422.07). Such a line is almost always a physician's fee billed separately, an assistant's share or a placeholder — a real charge, but not the price of the procedure itself.
| UCI Health-Orange Orange, CAHB ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US | $32.00 | file |