Joint injection (medium joint) cost in St. Louis, MO
In St. Louis, MO-IL, 16 hospitals list a cash price for joint injection or drainage, medium joint (wrist, elbow, ankle): from $91.70 to $1,282.23, with a median of $418.53. The lowest listed price is at Carlinville Area Hospital — $326.83 less than the median here. Across Missouri, the median is $338.65 at 61 hospitals.
- The median here, $418.53, is 10% above the US median of $379.80.
- That is 1.3× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($313.60).
- St. Louis, MO ranks 2nd of 2 metro areas in Missouri by median, cheapest first.
- 2 of 16 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 16 facilities across 14 cities for code 20605, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 6, 2026 and Jun 10, 2026.
Lowest$91.70Carlinville Area Hospital
Median$418.53half of hospitals charge less
Highest$1,282.23in this market
Difference14.0×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 St. Louis, MO-IL.
median
Lowest $91.70Highest $2,066.00
one sideboth sides
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlinville Area Hospital lowest Carlinville, IL · (217) 854-3141 ASPIRATION INTER/JOINT/BURSA File of Mar 21, 2026 · source file | $91.70 | $131.00 | $47.16–$187.14 | 30% |
| Carlinville Area Hospital Carlinville, IL · (217) 854-3141 Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Interm J RHC File of Mar 21, 2026 · source file | $98.70 | $141.00 | $50.76–$201.43 | 30% |
| Community Hospital of Staunton Staunton, IL · (618) 635-2200 ASPIR MED JT WRIST ELBOW ANKLE File of Feb 9, 2026 · source file | $167.55 | $335.10 | $96.88–$304.94 | 50% |
| Jersey Community Hospital Jerseyville, IL · (618) 498-6402 AMB Admin Charge (Inj Joint) -> 20605 inj joint interm File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $177.00 | $177.00 | $60.00–$141.60 | — |
| Carlinville Area Hospital Carlinville, IL · (217) 854-3141 JOINT ASPIRATION/INJ. INTERMEDIATE JOINT File of Mar 21, 2026 · source file | $205.10 | $293.00 | $105.48–$418.57 | 30% |
| Touchette Regional Hospital Cahokia Heights, IL · (618) 332-3060 Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, intermediate joint or bursa (eg, temporomandibular, acromioclavicular, wrist, elbow or ankle, olecranon bursa); without ultrasound guidance File of Apr 13, 2026 · source file | $210.49 | $339.50 | $209.95–$2,421.00 | 38% |
| Touchette Regional Hospital one side Cahokia Heights, IL · (618) 332-3060 Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, intermediate joint or bursa (eg, temporomandibular, acromioclavicular, wrist, elbow or ankle, olecranon bursa); without ultrasound guidance+1 more line at this price File of Apr 13, 2026 · source file | $215.76 | $348.00 | $209.95–$2,421.00 | 38% |
| Community Hospital of Staunton Staunton, IL · (618) 635-2200 MEDIUM JNT ASPRTION/INJCT UNI File of Feb 9, 2026 · source file | $246.30 | $492.60 | $142.42–$448.27 | 50% |
| Mercy Hospital South Saint Louis, MO · (314) 525-1000 Asp/Inj Intermed Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $298.35 | $459.00 | $29.84–$459.00 | 35% |
| Mercy Hospital Washington Washington, MO · (636) 239-8000 Asp/Inj Interm Jt W/O US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $338.65 | $521.00 | $288.00 | 35% |
| St Josephs Hospital Hospital Sisters Third Order of St Francis Breese, IL · (618) 526-4511 HC ARTHROCNT ASP/INJ JT INTRM File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $397.44 | $552.00 | $154.56–$822.34 | 28% |
| Mercy Hospital Lincoln Troy, MO · (636) 528-8551 Asp/Inj Interm Jt W/O US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $416.65 | $641.00 | $41.67–$641.00 | 35% |
| Gateway Regional Medical Center Granite City, IL · (618) 798-3000 S-JOINT ASP-INJ IM File of Mar 30, 2026 · source file | $420.40 | $700.66 | $700.66 | 40% |
| Mercy Hospital Washington Washington, MO · (636) 239-8000 Asp/Inj Intermed Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $424.45 | $653.00 | $301.61–$384.31 | 35% |
| Mercy Hospital St Louis Saint Louis, MO · (314) 251-6000 Asp/Inj Interm Jt W/O US Guid+1 more line at this price File of Jun 4, 2026 · source file | $531.05 | $817.00 | $301.61–$7,801.00 | 35% |
| Mercy Hospital Lincoln Troy, MO · (636) 528-8551 Asp/Inj Intermed Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $533.00 | $820.00 | $2,087.00–$3,194.00 | 35% |
| St Josephs Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis one side Highland, IL · (618) 651-2600 HC ARTHROCNT/ASP/INJ JNT INTRM W/O US GUID-LT+1 more line at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $542.16 | $753.00 | $150.60–$753.00 | 28% |
| St Josephs Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis Highland, IL · (618) 651-2600 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $542.16 | $753.00 | $150.60–$753.00 | 28% |
| Anderson Hospital Maryville, IL · (618) 288-5711 ASPIR MED JT WRIST ELBOW ANKLE File of Feb 6, 2026 · source file | $577.45 | $1,154.90 | $319.07–$1,300.00 | 50% |
| Jersey Community Hospital Jerseyville, IL · (618) 498-6402 20605 Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, intermediate joint or bursa+1 more line at this price File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $590.00 | $590.00 | $60.00–$595.00 | — |
| Hshs Holy Family Hospital Greenville, IL · (618) 664-1230 HC ARTHROCNT ASP/INJ JT INTRM+1 more line at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $662.40 | $920.00 | $224.03–$920.00 | 28% |
| Mercy Hospital South Saint Louis, MO · (314) 525-1000 Asp/Inj Interm Jt W/O US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $674.05 | $1,037.00 | $239.00–$310.00 | 35% |
| Anderson Hospital Maryville, IL · (618) 288-5711 MEDIUM JNT ASPRTION/INJCT UNI File of Feb 6, 2026 · source file | $687.45 | $1,374.90 | $319.07–$1,237.41 | 50% |
| Mercy Hospital Jefferson Festus, MO · (636) 933-1000 Asp/Inj Intermed Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $765.05 | $1,177.00 | $76.51–$1,177.00 | 35% |
| Jersey Community Hospital one side Jerseyville, IL · (618) 498-6402 XR Joint/Bursa Intmd Arthr/Asp/Inj Right File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $956.00 | $956.00 | $618.53–$812.60 | — |
| Jersey Community Hospital Jerseyville, IL · (618) 498-6402 IR PM Aspirate or INJ Medium Joint File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $956.00 | $956.00 | $179.87–$812.60 | — |
| St Elizabeths Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis O'Fallon, IL · (618) 234-2120 HC ARTHROCNT ASP/INJ JT INTRM File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $1,235.52 | $1,716.00 | $213.37–$1,716.00 | 28% |
| St Elizabeths Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis one side O'Fallon, IL · (618) 234-2120 HC ARTHROCNT/ASP/INJ JNT INTRM W/O US GUID-RT+1 more line at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $1,235.52 | $1,716.00 | $213.37–$1,716.00 | 28% |
| Shriners Childrens - St Louis Saint Louis, MO · (314) 432-3600 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $1,282.23 | $1,282.23 | $31.74–$501.82 | — |
| Hshs Holy Family Hospital Greenville, IL · (618) 664-1230 HC ARTHROCNT/ASP/INJ JNT INTRM W/O US GUID-BIL File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $1,324.80 | $1,840.00 | $224.03–$1,840.00 | 28% |
| Jersey Community Hospital one side Jerseyville, IL · (618) 498-6402 XR Joint/Bursa Intmd Arthr/Asp/Inj Left File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $1,863.00 | $1,863.00 | $1,205.36–$1,583.55 | — |
| Jersey Community Hospital Jerseyville, IL · (618) 498-6402 20605-Intermediate Aspiration/Inj w/o US File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $2,066.00 | $2,066.00 | $179.87–$1,756.10 | — |
| Mercy Hospital Washington both sides Washington, MO · (636) 239-8000 Bilat Asp/Inj Intermed Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $507.65 | $781.00 | $3,199.00–$7,801.00 | 35% |
| Mercy Hospital South both sides Saint Louis, MO · (314) 525-1000 Bilat Asp/Inj Intermed Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $600.60 | $924.00 | $3,153.00–$6,631.00 | 35% |
| Mercy Hospital Lincoln both sides Troy, MO · (636) 528-8551 Bilat Asp/Inj Intermed Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $737.75 | $1,135.00 | $2,087.00–$3,194.00 | 35% |
| Mercy Hospital St Louis both sides Saint Louis, MO · (314) 251-6000 Bilat Asp/Inj Intermed Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 4, 2026 · source file | $796.90 | $1,226.00 | $79.69–$1,226.00 | 35% |
| Mercy Hospital Jefferson both sides Festus, MO · (636) 933-1000 Bilat Asp/Inj Intermed Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $1,275.30 | $1,962.00 | $3,428.00–$8,893.00 | 35% |
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 $91.70, median $418.53, highest $1,282.23 — a 14.0× difference within the same market.
Both sides : lowest $507.65, median $737.75, highest $1,275.30 — a 2.5× difference within the same market.
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 9 facilities here, median $420.40. 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 13 of 16 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 joint injection (medium joint) is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Joint injection (medium joint) explained.