Joint injection (medium joint) cost in Minneapolis, MN
In Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, 24 hospitals list a cash price for joint injection or drainage, medium joint (wrist, elbow, ankle): from $148.40 to $494.78, with a median of $342.86. The lowest listed price is at Mille Lacs Health System — $194.46 less than the median here. Across Minnesota, the median is $305.21 at 81 hospitals.
- The median here, $342.86, is 10% below the US median of $379.80.
- That is 1.1× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($313.60).
- Minneapolis, MN ranks 2nd of 2 metro areas in Minnesota by median, cheapest first.
- 1 of 24 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 24 facilities across 19 cities for code 20605, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Oct 25, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 29, 2026 and Sep 25, 2026.
Lowest$148.40Mille Lacs Health System
Median$342.86half of hospitals charge less
Highest$494.78in this market
Difference3.3×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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI.
median
Lowest $148.40Highest $1,187.00
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mille Lacs Health System lowest Onamia, MN · (320) 532-3154 DRAIN/INJ JNT W/O US File of Aug 13, 2026 · source file | $148.40 | $212.00 | $102.40–$512.00 | 30% |
| Regions Hospital St. Paul, MN · (651) 254-1616 Drainage/injection intermediate joint File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $197.86 | $761.00 | $110.89–$1,585.00 | 74% |
| Hudson Hospital Hudson, WI · (715) 531-6000 Drainage/injection intermediate joint File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $199.84 | $443.00 | $94.00–$2,417.00 | 55% |
| Mille Lacs Health System Onamia, MN · (320) 532-3154 ARTHOCENTESIS INTERMEDIATE JOINT+1 more line at this price File of Aug 13, 2026 · source file | $210.00 | $300.00 | $102.40–$512.00 | 30% |
| Lakeview Hospital Stillwater, MN · (651) 430-4509 Drainage/injection intermediate joint File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $215.71 | $583.00 | $1.62–$1,845.00 | 63% |
| Methodist Hospital St. Louis Park, MN · (952) 993-5000 Drainage/injection intermediate joint File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $290.42 | $1,117.00 | $167.37–$1,850.00 | 74% |
| Westfields Hospital New Richmond, WI · (715) 246-2101 Drainage/injection intermediate joint File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $294.56 | $560.00 | $26.04–$560.00 | 47% |
| Fairview Bethesda Hospital St. Paul, MN HC DRAIN/INJ INTER JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of Jan 29, 2026 · source file | $340.35 | $848.73 | $209.64–$763.86 | 60% |
| M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital Woodbury, MN · (651) 232-2185 HC DRAIN/INJ INTER JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of Feb 5, 2026 · source file | $342.86 | $855.00 | $252.46–$1,438.00 | 60% |
| M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital Edina, MN · (952) 924-5000 HC DRAIN/INJ INTER JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of Feb 6, 2026 · source file | $342.86 | $855.00 | $252.46–$1,383.00 | 60% |
| Fairview Lakes Health Services Wyoming, MN · (952) 892-2101 HC DRAIN/INJ INTER JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of Feb 5, 2026 · source file | $342.86 | $855.00 | $128.00–$1,617.00 | 60% |
| M Health Fairview University of Mn Medical Center Minneapolis, MN · (612) 624-1765 Outpatient Services+1 more line at this price File of Feb 6, 2026 · source file | $342.86 | $855.00 | $275.27–$1,438.00 | 60% |
| M Health Fairview St. John's Hospital Maplewood, MN · (651) 232-7000 HC DRAIN/INJ INTER JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of Feb 5, 2026 · source file | $342.86 | $855.00 | $252.46–$1,438.00 | 60% |
| Fairview Northland Regional Hospital Princeton, MN · (952) 892-2101 HC DRAIN/INJ INTER JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of Jan 29, 2026 · source file | $342.86 | $855.00 | $75.36–$769.50 | 60% |
| M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital Burnsville, MN · (952) 892-2000 HC DRAIN/INJ INTER JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of Feb 6, 2026 · source file | $363.38 | $855.00 | $228.29–$1,617.00 | 57% |
| Fairview Maple Grove Surgery Center Maple Grove, MN HC DRAIN/INJ INTER JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of May 18, 2026 · source file | $413.24 | $1,030.50 | $29.13–$927.45 | 60% |
| Maple Grove Hospital Maple Grove, MN · (763) 581-1000 Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, intermediate joint or bursa; without ultrasound guidance+1 more line at this price File of Apr 30, 2026 · source file | $420.55 | $798.00 | $199.17–$917.00 | 47% |
| North Memorial Health Care Robbinsdale, MN · (763) 520-5200 Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, intermediate joint or bursa; without ultrasound guidance+1 more line at this price File of Apr 30, 2026 · source file | $420.55 | $798.00 | $216.80–$917.00 | 47% |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo, MN · (763) 682-1212 HCHG ARTHROCENT ASPIR/INJ INTERM JOINT/BURSA WO US File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $423.19 | $755.70 | $152.05–$1,207.66 | 44% |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge, MN · (763) 689-7700 HCHG ARTHROCENT ASPIR/INJ INTERM JOINT/BURSA WO US File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $423.19 | $755.70 | $152.05–$1,207.66 | 44% |
| River Falls Area Hospital River Falls, WI · (715) 307-6000 HCHG ARTHROCENT ASPIR/INJ INTERM JOINT/BURSA WO US File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $423.19 | $755.70 | $152.05–$1,607.42 | 44% |
| Childrens Health Care Minneapolis, MN · (612) 813-6112 ARTHROCENT INT JT WO US GUIDE- ED File of May 7, 2026 · source file | $462.00 | $462.00 | $110.55–$708.02 | — |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital Minneapolis, MN · (612) 863-4000 HCHG ARTHROCENT ASPIR/INJ INTERM JOINT/BURSA WO US File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $494.78 | $1,030.80 | $207.40–$865.87 | 52% |
| Allina United Hospital St. Paul, MN · (651) 241-8000 HCHG ARTHROCENT ASPIR/INJ INTERM JOINT/BURSA WO US File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $494.78 | $1,030.80 | $207.40–$1,030.80 | 52% |
| Mercy Hospital Coon Rapids, MN · (762) 236-6000 HCHG ARTHROCENT ASPIR/INJ INTERM JOINT/BURSA WO US File of Jun 17, 2026 · source file | $494.78 | $1,030.80 | $207.40–$865.87 | 52% |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo, MN · (763) 682-1212 HCHG IR INJ OR ASP INTERMED JT OR BURSA File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $548.80 | $980.00 | $197.18–$2,924.00 | 44% |
| River Falls Area Hospital River Falls, WI · (715) 307-6000 HCHG IR INJ OR ASP INTERMED JT OR BURSA File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $548.80 | $980.00 | $197.18–$1,607.42 | 44% |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge, MN · (763) 689-7700 HCHG IR INJ OR ASP INTERMED JT OR BURSA File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $548.80 | $980.00 | $197.18–$2,924.00 | 44% |
| Childrens Health Care Minneapolis, MN · (612) 813-6112 INJ ARTHROCENTESIS MEDJT WO US+1 more line at this price File of May 7, 2026 · source file | $565.00 | $565.00 | $94.98–$708.02 | — |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo, MN · (763) 682-1212 HCHG RAD ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIRATION INJECTION INTER+1 more line at this price File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $577.53 | $1,031.30 | $207.50–$2,924.00 | 44% |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge, MN · (763) 689-7700 HCHG XR ARTHROCENTESIS INTERMEDIATE JOINT OR BURSA+1 more line at this price File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $577.53 | $1,031.30 | $207.50–$2,924.00 | 44% |
| River Falls Area Hospital River Falls, WI · (715) 307-6000 HCHG XR ARTHROCENTESIS INTERMEDIATE JOINT OR BURSA+1 more line at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $577.53 | $1,031.30 | $207.50–$1,607.42 | 44% |
| Mercy Hospital Coon Rapids, MN · (762) 236-6000 HCHG IR INJ OR ASP INTERMED JT OR BURSA+2 more lines at this price File of Jun 17, 2026 · source file | $609.50 | $1,269.80 | $255.48–$3,243.00 | 52% |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital Minneapolis, MN · (612) 863-4000 HCHG IR INJ OR ASP INTERMED JT OR BURSA+2 more lines at this price File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $609.50 | $1,269.80 | $255.48–$3,243.00 | 52% |
| Allina United Hospital St. Paul, MN · (651) 241-8000 HCHG IR INJ OR ASP INTERMED JT OR BURSA+2 more lines at this price File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $609.50 | $1,269.80 | $255.48–$3,243.00 | 52% |
| Cambridge Medical Center Cambridge, MN · (763) 689-7700 HCHG ARTHROCENT/ASPIR/INJ INTERM JOINT/BURSA WO US File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $862.68 | $1,540.50 | $292.45–$2,924.00 | 44% |
| River Falls Area Hospital River Falls, WI · (715) 307-6000 HCHG ARTHROCENT/ASPIR/INJ INTERM JOINT/BURSA WO US File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $862.68 | $1,540.50 | $292.45–$1,607.42 | 44% |
| Buffalo Hospital Buffalo, MN · (763) 682-1212 HCHG ARTHROCENT/ASPIR/INJ INTERM JOINT/BURSA WO US File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $862.68 | $1,540.50 | $292.45–$2,924.00 | 44% |
| Abbott Northwestern Hospital Minneapolis, MN · (612) 863-4000 HCHG ARTHROCENT/ASPIR/INJ INTERM JOINT/BURSA WO US File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $1,128.24 | $2,350.50 | $268.81–$3,243.00 | 52% |
| Allina United Hospital St. Paul, MN · (651) 241-8000 HCHG ARTHROCENT/ASPIR/INJ INTERM JOINT/BURSA WO US File of Jun 16, 2026 · source file | $1,128.24 | $2,350.50 | $268.81–$3,243.00 | 52% |
| Mercy Hospital Coon Rapids, MN · (762) 236-6000 HCHG ARTHROCENT/ASPIR/INJ INTERM JOINT/BURSA WO US File of Jun 17, 2026 · source file | $1,128.24 | $2,350.50 | $268.81–$3,243.00 | 52% |
| Childrens Health Care Minneapolis, MN · (612) 813-6112 ARTHROCENT INT JT WO US GUIDE File of May 7, 2026 · source file | $1,148.00 | $1,148.00 | $110.55–$1,148.00 | — |
| Childrens Health Care Minneapolis, MN · (612) 813-6112 ARTHROCENT INT JT WO US GUIDE-SSU File of May 7, 2026 · source file | $1,187.00 | $1,187.00 | $110.55–$1,187.00 | — |
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 $148.40, median $342.86, highest $494.78 — a 3.3× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 24 facilities here, median $353.12. 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 24 of 24 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.