Joint injection (medium joint) cost in Madison, WI — inpatient
In Madison, WI, 2 hospitals list a cash price for joint injection or drainage, medium joint (wrist, elbow, ankle) as an inpatient: from $292.50 to $370.40, with a median of $331.45. The lowest listed price is at Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital — $38.95 less than the median here. Across Wisconsin, the median is $292.50 at 77 hospitals.
Cash prices at 2 facilities across 2 cities for code 20605, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 28, 2026 and Apr 1, 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 Madison, WI.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital lowest Portage, WI · (608) 742-4131 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US | $292.50 | $450.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital lowest Portage, WI · (608) 742-4131 Pro Arthrocnts Aspir&/Njx Intrm Jt/Bursa | $292.50 | $450.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital Portage, WI · (608) 742-4131 CT Guided Aspir &/or Inj Interm Jt | $325.00 | $500.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Meriter Madison, WI · (608) 417-6210 PR ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US | $370.40 | $463.00 | $33.38–$439.85 | 20% | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Meriter Madison, WI · (608) 417-6210 HC DRAIN/INJ INTERM JNT/BURSA | $2,295.63 | $2,869.53 | $659.99–$2,726.05 | 20% | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital both sides Portage, WI · (608) 742-4131 Pro Arthrocnts Aspir&/Njx Intrm Jt/Bursa|BILATERAL PROCEDURE | $438.75 | $675.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital both sides Portage, WI · (608) 742-4131 CT Guided Aspir &/or Inj Interm Jt|BILATERAL PROCEDURE | $487.50 | $750.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $292.50, median $331.45, highest $370.40 — a 1.3× difference within the same market.
Both sides : lowest $438.75, median $438.75, highest $438.75.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $331.45 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated. 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.