Joint injection (medium joint) cost in Santa Maria, CA — inpatient
In Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA, 1 hospital lists a cash price for joint injection or drainage, medium joint (wrist, elbow, ankle) as an inpatient: from $451.97 to $451.97, with a median of $451.97. Across California, the median is $567.25 at 133 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 20605, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 28, 2026 and Feb 28, 2026.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dignity Health Santa Maria, CA · (805) 739-3100 ARTHROCEN ASP INTER JT WO | $451.97 | $1,056.00 | $665.28–$1,034.88 | 57% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $451.97, median $451.97, highest $451.97.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $451.97 — 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 and 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.