Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Columbus, OH
In Columbus, OH, 16 hospitals list a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound: from $92.50 to $2,020.85, with a median of $813.80. The lowest listed price is at Morrow County Hospital — $721.30 less than the median here. Across Ohio, the median is $696.00 at 99 hospitals.
Cash prices at 16 facilities across 10 cities for code 20610, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Oct 22, 2025 and Apr 1, 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 Columbus, OH.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morrow County Hospital lowest Mount Gilead, OH · (419) 946-5015 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $92.50 | $142.30 | $52.65–$138.03 | 35% | Oct 22, 2025 source file |
| Mount Carmel St Ann's Westerville, OH · (614) 546-4034 PR Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Injection Major Joint/Bursa W/O U/S Guidance | $144.00 | $144.00 | $3.51–$288.00 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel East Columbus, OH · (614) 234-5000 PR Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Injection Major Joint/Bursa W/O U/S Guidance | $144.00 | $144.00 | $3.51–$288.00 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel Grove City Grove City, OH PR Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Injection Major Joint/Bursa W/O U/S Guidance | $156.00 | $156.00 | $15.44–$156.00 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus, OH · (614) 722-2000 PR ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $204.30 | $227.00 | $53.93–$170.25 | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus, OH · (614) 722-2000 ASP &/OR INJ, MAJOR JOINT, W/O US GUIDANCE | $441.00 | $490.00 | $230.30–$480.20 | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Morrow County Hospital Mount Gilead, OH · (419) 946-5015 Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $454.03 | $698.50 | $258.45–$677.55 | 35% | Oct 22, 2025 source file |
| Mount Carmel Grove City one side Grove City, OH HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $531.70 | $818.00 | $290.40–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Diley Ridge Medical Center one side Canal Winchester, OH · (614) 838-7911 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $531.70 | $818.00 | $260.19–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel East one side Columbus, OH · (614) 234-5000 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Lt | $531.70 | $818.00 | $255.29–$304.92 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Diley Ridge Medical Center one side Canal Winchester, OH · (614) 838-7911 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Lt | $531.70 | $818.00 | $260.19–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel East one side Columbus, OH · (614) 234-5000 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $531.70 | $818.00 | $290.40–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel St Ann's one side Westerville, OH · (614) 546-4034 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Lt | $531.70 | $818.00 | $295.97–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel Dublin one side Dublin, OH · (380) 898-9000 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Lt | $531.70 | $818.00 | $367.28–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital one side New Albany, OH · (614) 775-6600 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Lt | $531.70 | $818.00 | $260.19–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital one side New Albany, OH · (614) 775-6600 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $531.70 | $818.00 | $260.19–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel Grove City one side Grove City, OH HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Lt | $531.70 | $818.00 | $290.40–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel Dublin one side Dublin, OH · (380) 898-9000 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $531.70 | $818.00 | $367.28–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel St Ann's one side Westerville, OH · (614) 546-4034 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $531.70 | $818.00 | $295.97–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel East one side Columbus, OH · (614) 234-5000 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $554.03 | — | $255.29–$3,186.00 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital New Albany, OH · (614) 775-6600 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Bl | $797.55 | $1,227.00 | $260.19–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Diley Ridge Medical Center Canal Winchester, OH · (614) 838-7911 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Bl | $797.55 | $1,227.00 | $260.19–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel Grove City Grove City, OH HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Bl | $797.55 | $1,227.00 | $290.40–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel East Columbus, OH · (614) 234-5000 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Bl | $797.55 | $1,227.00 | $290.40–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel St Ann's Westerville, OH · (614) 546-4034 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Bl | $797.55 | $1,227.00 | $295.97–$3,186.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel Dublin Dublin, OH · (380) 898-9000 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Bl | $797.55 | $1,227.00 | $260.19–$310.77 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital one side New Albany, OH · (614) 775-6600 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $950.62 | — | $260.19–$3,186.00 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel St Ann's one side Westerville, OH · (614) 546-4034 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $1,066.03 | — | $260.19–$3,186.00 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel Grove City one side Grove City, OH HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $1,072.08 | — | $255.29–$3,186.00 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Berger Hospital Circleville, OH · (740) 420-8008 Hc Asp Or Inj Joint Large | $1,095.90 | $1,686.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Grady Memorial Hospital Delaware, OH · (740) 368-5145 Hc Asp Or Inj Joint Large | $1,155.70 | $1,778.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Grove City Methodist Grove City, OH Hc Asp Or Inj Joint Large | $2,020.85 | $3,109.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Grant Medical Center Columbus, OH · (614) 566-9164 Hc Asp Or Inj Joint Large | $2,020.85 | $3,109.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Dublin Methodist Hospital Dublin, OH · (614) 544-8000 Hc Asp Or Inj Joint Large | $2,020.85 | $3,109.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Doctors Hospital Columbus, OH · (614) 544-2136 Hc Asp Or Inj Joint Large | $2,020.85 | $3,109.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Riverside Methodist Hospital Columbus, OH · (614) 566-5000 Hc Asp Or Inj Joint Large | $2,020.85 | $3,109.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Pickerington Methodist Hospital Pickerington, OH Hc Asp Or Inj Joint Large | $2,020.85 | $3,109.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel Dublin one side Dublin, OH · (380) 898-9000 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $4,857.45 | — | $260.19–$3,186.00 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $92.50, median $813.80, highest $2,020.85 — a 21.8× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 16 facilities here, median $813.80. 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 6 of 8 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.