Joint injection (medium joint) cost in Riverside, CA
In Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA, 25 hospitals list a cash price for joint injection or drainage, medium joint (wrist, elbow, ankle): from $167.09 to $1,363.00, with a median of $548.45. The lowest listed price is at San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital — $381.36 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $608.40 at 185 hospitals.
- The median here, $548.45, is 44% above the US median of $379.80.
- That is 1.7× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($313.60).
- Riverside, CA ranks 2nd of 5 metro areas in California by median, cheapest first.
- 5 of 25 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 25 facilities across 22 cities for code 20605, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Nov 4, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 14, 2026 and Sep 30, 2026.
Lowest$167.09San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital
Median$548.45half of hospitals charge less
Highest$1,363.00in this market
Difference8.2×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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA.
median
Lowest $167.09Highest $1,412.00
one sideboth sides
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital lowest Banning, CA · (951) 769-2101 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of May 20, 2026 · source file | $167.09 | $835.47 | $373.22–$1,208.00 | 80% |
| Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CA · (760) 340-3911 HC Arthro/Asp/Inj,Intermed Jt/Bursa+2 more lines at this price File of Apr 2, 2026 · source file | $195.42 | $1,404.00 | $54.46–$7,387.00 | 86% |
| Mountains Community Hospital Lake Arrowhead, CA · (909) 336-3651 ARTHCNT ASP/INJ INTERM JT File of Jan 14, 2026 · source file | $198.40 | $496.00 | $223.20–$421.60 | 60% |
| Palo Verde Hospital Blythe, CA · (760) 922-4115 20605-Intermediate Aspiration/Inj w/o US File of Jul 1, 2026 · source file | $202.72 | $270.30 | — | 25% |
| St Bernardine Medical Center San Bernardino, CA · (909) 883-8711 ARTHROCEN ASP INTER JT WO File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $265.64 | $807.00 | $43.57–$12,137.00 | 67% |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center - Murrieta Murrieta, CA · (951) 290-4000 HC ARTHO ASP &/OR INJ INTER JOINT File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $288.45 | $641.00 | $116.02–$9,616.00 | 55% |
| Chino Valley Medical Center Chino, CA · (909) 627-6111 Drain/Inj Joint/Bursa W/O Us - 20605 - OR36020605+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $392.00 | $17,806.70 | $54.46–$17,806.70 | 98% |
| San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital Banning, CA · (951) 769-2101 ASPIRATION AND/OR INJECTION OF FLUID FROM MEDIUM JOINT File of May 20, 2026 · source file | $392.00 | $1,960.01 | $373.22–$1,208.00 | 80% |
| Desert Valley Hospital Victorville, CA · (760) 241-8000 DRN/INJ JT/BURSA W/O US MED JT File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $392.00 | $1,308.85 | $54.46–$1,308.85 | 70% |
| Montclair Hospital Medical Center Montclair, CA · (909) 625-8300 Hc Drain/Inject Intermediate Joint/Bursa File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $392.00 | $1,656.85 | $54.46–$1,656.85 | 76% |
| Desert Valley Hospital one side Victorville, CA · (760) 241-8000 ARTHROCENT ASP/INJ JT INTER RT - 20605 - 4504010171+3 more lines at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $392.00 | $745.50 | $54.46–$1,308.85 | 47% |
| San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital one side Banning, CA · (951) 769-2101 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US+1 more line at this price File of May 20, 2026 · source file | $392.54 | $1,962.71 | $373.22–$1,208.00 | 80% |
| Redlands Community Hospital Redlands, CA · (909) 335-5500 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from medium joint File of Jun 19, 2026 · source file | $430.56 | $1,794.00 | $54.46–$2,563.63 | 76% |
| San Antonio Regional Hospital Upland, CA · (909) 985-2811 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from medium joint File of Apr 2, 2026 · source file | $432.00 | $1,892.00 | $54.46–$4,459.00 | 77% |
| Victor Valley Global Medical Center Victorville, CA · (760) 245-8691 ED-INJECT/ASPIRATE JOINT W/O US GUIDE ME File of May 13, 2026 · source file | $483.00 | $483.00 | $44.80–$1,075.00 | — |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center - Murrieta Murrieta, CA · (951) 290-4000 HC JOINT ASPIR/INJ-INTER JOINT File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $535.95 | $1,191.00 | $215.57–$9,616.00 | 55% |
| Bear Valley Community Hospital Big Bear Lake, CA · (909) 866-6501 INT JOINT INJ+1 more line at this price File of Jun 11, 2026 · source file | $548.45 | $783.50 | $297.92–$929.85 | 30% |
| Barstow Community Hospital Barstow, CA · (760) 256-1761 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from medium joint File of Sep 17, 2026 · source file | $563.95 | $939.91 | $54.46–$3,358.80 | 40% |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA · (909) 558-4000 HC ARTHO ASP &/OR INJ INTER JOINT File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $580.05 | $1,289.00 | $65.31–$6,587.00 | 55% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Riverside Riverside, CA · (951) 353-2000 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $608.40 | $1,170.00 | $293.00–$871.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Moreno Valley Moreno Valley, CA · (951) 251-6530 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $608.40 | $1,170.00 | $293.00–$871.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fontana Fontana, CA · (909) 427-5000 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $608.40 | $1,170.00 | $293.00–$871.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Ontario Medical Center Campus Ontario, CA · (909) 427-5000 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $608.40 | $1,170.00 | $293.00–$871.00 | 48% |
| Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital Loma Linda, CA · (909) 558-8000 HC ARTHO ASP &/OR INJ INTER JOINT File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $616.50 | $1,370.00 | $63.79–$6,716.00 | 55% |
| Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital Loma Linda, CA · (909) 558-8000 HC JOINT ASPIR/INJ-INTER JOINT File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $642.15 | $1,427.00 | $63.79–$32,312.00 | 55% |
| Victor Valley Global Medical Center Victorville, CA · (760) 245-8691 OBP-ARTHROCENTESIS/ASPIRATION/INJ-MAJOR File of May 13, 2026 · source file | $695.00 | $695.00 | $44.80–$1,267.00 | — |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley, CA · (951) 486-4000 HC Joint Aspir/Inj-Inter Joint+1 more line at this price File of Mar 30, 2026 · source file | $717.86 | $717.86 | $50.14–$717.86 | — |
| Bear Valley Community Hospital Big Bear Lake, CA · (909) 866-6501 ASPIRATION INJECT INTERMED JOINT/BURSA File of Jun 11, 2026 · source file | $723.22 | $1,033.17 | $297.92–$929.85 | 30% |
| St Mary Medical Center Apple Valley, CA · (760) 242-2311 HC ED ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US CDM+2 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $751.68 | $1,566.00 | — | 52% |
| Hemet Global Medical Center Hemet, CA · (951) 652-2811 ER-ART ASP INJ INTE JNT/BURSA+1 more line at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $860.00 | $860.00 | $44.80–$3,250.00 | — |
| Menifee Global Medical Center Menifee, CA · (951) 679-8888 ER-ART ASP INJ INTE JNT/BURSA+1 more line at this price File of May 20, 2026 · source file | $860.00 | $860.00 | $44.80–$3,250.00 | — |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA · (909) 558-4000 HC JOINT ASPIR/INJ-INTER JOINT File of Sep 2, 2026 · source file | $868.95 | $1,931.00 | $65.31–$27,467.00 | 55% |
| Menifee Global Medical Center Menifee, CA · (951) 679-8888 DRAIN INJECT INTERMED JOINT BURSA File of May 20, 2026 · source file | $1,202.00 | $1,202.00 | $44.80–$1,267.00 | — |
| Hemet Global Medical Center Hemet, CA · (951) 652-2811 DRAIN INJECT INTERMED JOINT BURSA File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $1,202.00 | $1,202.00 | $44.80–$1,267.00 | — |
| Riverside University Medical Center Moreno Valley, CA · (951) 486-4000 HC Artho Asp &/or Inj Inter Joint+1 more line at this price File of Mar 30, 2026 · source file | $1,340.50 | $1,340.50 | $50.14–$1,340.50 | — |
| San Bernardino County Colton, CA · (909) 580-1000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US File of Feb 25, 2026 · source file | $1,363.00 | $1,363.00 | $50.14–$988.18 | — |
| San Antonio Regional Hospital Upland, CA · (909) 985-2811 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from medium joint File of Apr 2, 2026 · source file | $1,412.00 | $1,892.00 | $54.46–$3,100.00 | 25% |
| Desert Valley Hospital both sides Victorville, CA · (760) 241-8000 ARTHROCENT ASP/INJ JT INTER BI File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $392.00 | $734.10 | $54.46–$1,308.85 | 47% |
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 $167.09, median $548.45, highest $1,363.00 — a 8.2× difference within the same market.
Both sides : lowest $392.00, median $392.00, highest $392.00.
The two groups are not comparable and are not averaged together: a
price for both sides of the body covers twice the work. Merging them is how a single
published "median" ends up far above what one side actually costs.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 18 facilities here, median $608.40. 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 21 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 2 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 joint injection (medium joint) is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Joint injection (medium joint) explained.