Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Cleveland, OH
In Cleveland, OH, 24 hospitals list a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound: from $75.40 to $3,292.20, with a median of $882.70. The lowest listed price is at Metrohealth System — $807.30 less than the median here. Across Ohio, the median is $696.00 at 99 hospitals.
Cash prices at 24 facilities across 20 cities for code 20610, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 24, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Jul 14, 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 Cleveland, OH.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metrohealth System lowest Cleveland, OH · (216) 778-7089 Su Arthrocentesis Major Joint | $75.40 | $215.43 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Metrohealth System lowest Cleveland, OH · (216) 778-7089 Rotator Cuff/Major Joint Inj | $75.40 | $215.43 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Metrohealth System lowest Cleveland, OH · (216) 778-7089 Arthrocentesis, Aspiration &/Or Injection; Major Joint/Bursa | $75.40 | $215.43 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Summa Health System Akron, OH · (330) 375-3000 Hc Asc Arthrocentesis/Aspir/Inj Maj Jt Uni W/O Us | $110.25 | $110.25 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Metrohealth System Cleveland, OH · (216) 778-7089 Hc Drain/Inject Joint/Bursa Maj Jnt | $489.51 | $1,398.60 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uhhs Memorial Hospital of Geneva Geneva, OH · (440) 415-0151 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $498.00 | $664.00 | $132.80–$2,035.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| University Hospitals Conneaut Medical Center Conneaut, OH · (440) 593-1131 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $498.00 | $664.00 | $205.84–$2,035.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| Southwest General Health Center Middleburg Heights, OH · (440) 816-8000 MAJOR JOINT INJECTION | $600.75 | $801.00 | $117.67–$2,485.00 | 25% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Southwest General Health Center Middleburg Heights, OH · (440) 816-8000 ARTHROCENTSIS MAJOR JNT | $600.75 | $801.00 | $117.67–$2,485.00 | 25% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Lake Health Beachwood Medical Center Beachwood, OH · (216) 545-4800 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $696.00 | $928.00 | $205.09–$2,758.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| University Hospitals - Elyria Medical Center Elyria, OH · (440) 329-7500 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $696.00 | $928.00 | $290.40–$3,634.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| UH St John Medical Center Westlake, OH · (440) 835-8000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $696.00 | $928.00 | $227.36–$1,844.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| UH Regional Hospitals Chardon, OH · (440) 285-6246 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $696.00 | $928.00 | $242.21–$2,501.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| Parma Community General Hospital Parma, OH · (440) 743-3000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $696.00 | $928.00 | $282.11–$2,923.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| Lake Health Beachwood Medical Center Beachwood, OH · (216) 545-4800 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $696.00 | $928.00 | $290.40–$835.20 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| University Hospitals Health System Willoughby, OH HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $696.00 | $928.00 | $290.40–$881.64 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| Southwest General Health Center Middleburg Heights, OH · (440) 816-8000 DRAIN INJECT JOINT LARGE | $708.75 | $945.00 | $117.67–$2,485.00 | 25% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Hospital Cleveland, OH · (216) 476-7000 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $882.70 | $1,358.00 | $384.04–$1,358.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Medina Hospital Medina, OH · (330) 725-1000 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $882.70 | $1,358.00 | $55.52–$3,465.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Lutheran Hospital Cleveland, OH · (216) 696-4300 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $882.70 | $1,358.00 | $81.81–$3,465.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Marymount Hospital Garfield Heights, OH · (216) 587-8210 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $882.70 | $1,358.00 | $81.81–$3,465.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| South Pointe Hospital Warrensville Heights, OH · (216) 491-6523 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $882.70 | $1,358.00 | $81.81–$3,465.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, OH · (216) 952-9829 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $882.70 | $1,358.00 | $51.29–$4,628.00 | 35% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Cleveland Clinic Health System - East Region Euclid, OH ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $882.70 | $1,358.00 | $81.81–$3,465.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital Avon, OH · (440) 695-5000 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $882.70 | $1,358.00 | $81.81–$3,465.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Lodi Community Hospital Lodi, OH · (330) 948-1222 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $882.70 | $1,358.00 | $384.04–$1,358.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Hillcrest Hospital Mayfield Heights, OH · (440) 312-4500 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $882.70 | $1,358.00 | $69.88–$3,398.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Health Allen Hospital Oberlin, OH · (440) 334-7039 HC Inj/Asp Maj Jnt or Bursa | $1,046.40 | $1,744.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Allen Hospital Oberlin, OH · (440) 334-7039 HC Asp Injection Major Joint | $1,046.40 | $1,744.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| UH Cleveland Medical Center Cleveland, OH · (216) 844-1000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $1,067.25 | $1,423.00 | $290.40–$1,280.70 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| UH Cleveland Medical Center Cleveland, OH · (216) 844-1000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $1,067.25 | $1,423.00 | $290.40–$1,280.70 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| Summa Health System Akron, OH · (330) 375-3000 Hc Ed Arthro/Aspir/Inj Maj Jt Uni W/O Us | $1,810.00 | $1,810.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Summa Health System Akron, OH · (330) 375-3000 Hc Arthrocentesis/Aspir/Inj Maj Jt Uni W/O Us | $1,810.00 | $1,810.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Health Allen Hospital Oberlin, OH · (440) 334-7039 HC Arthrocent/Aspiration Maj Jnt | $2,120.70 | $3,534.50 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Regional Medical Center Lorain, OH · (440) 960-4000 HC Arthrocent/Aspiration Maj Jnt | $3,292.20 | $5,487.00 | $290.40–$296.21 | 40% | — source file |
Outpatient: lowest $75.40, median $882.70, highest $3,292.20 — a 43.7× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 24 facilities here, median $882.70. 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 20 of 21 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 it is
This procedure uses a needle to inject medicine into, or draw fluid out of, a large joint such as the knee, shoulder or hip, or a large bursa. It is commonly used for arthritis or bursitis pain, or to test joint fluid.
What the price covers
The price covers the injection or drainage procedure for one joint. The drug itself, such as a steroid or gel injection, and any lab test of the fluid are billed separately.