Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Denver, CO — inpatient
In Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO, 8 hospitals list a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound as an inpatient: from $56.87 to $2,490.93, with a median of $1,578.27. The lowest listed price is at Craig Hospital — $1,521.40 less than the median here. Across Colorado, the median is $1,578.27 at 10 hospitals.
Cash prices at 8 facilities across 6 cities for code 20610, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Jun 25, 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craig Hospital lowest Englewood, CO HC INJECT/ASPIRATE MAJOR JOINT | $56.87 | $149.25 | $77.31–$134.33 | 62% | Jun 25, 2026 source file |
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority Denver, CO · (303) 436-4927 HC DRAIN/INJECT, JOINT/BURSA | $189.82 | $542.33 | $186.02 | 65% | Apr 30, 2026 source file |
| National Jewish Health one side Denver, CO · (303) 388-4461 HC MAJOR JOINT ASPRTN/INJ UNILATERAL W/O US GUIDE | $499.80 | $714.00 | $323.80–$679.98 | 30% | — source file |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=ARTHRO ASP/INJ MAJ JNT/BURSA WO US | $665.60 | $1,024.00 | $153.60–$942.08 | 35% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| Childrens Hospital Colorado Aurora, CO · (720) 777-1234 HB=ARTHRO ASP/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA WO US | $2,166.45 | $3,333.00 | $499.95–$3,066.36 | 35% | Apr 17, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Porter Denver, CO · (303) 778-1955 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $2,490.93 | $2,490.93 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Littleton Littleton, CO · (303) 730-8900 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $2,490.93 | $2,490.93 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Castle Rock Castle Rock, CO · (720) 455-5000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $2,490.93 | $2,490.93 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Parker Parker, CO · (303) 269-4000 HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $2,490.93 | $2,490.93 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $56.87, median $1,578.27, highest $2,490.93 — a 43.8× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 8 facilities here, median $1,578.27 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 3 of 4 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 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.