Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Eau Claire, WI — inpatient
In Eau Claire, WI, 2 hospitals list a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound as an inpatient: from $345.15 to $585.20, with a median of $465.18. The lowest listed price is at Aspirus Stanley Hospital — $120.03 less than the median here. Across Wisconsin, the median is $345.15 at 79 hospitals.
Cash prices at 2 facilities across 2 cities for code 20610, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 24, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 20, 2026 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 Eau Claire, WI.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspirus Stanley Hospital lowest Stanley, WI · (715) 644-5571 Pro Drain/Inject, Joint/Bursa | $345.15 | $531.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Stanley Hospital lowest Stanley, WI · (715) 644-5571 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $345.15 | $531.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Stanley Hospital Stanley, WI · (715) 644-5571 CT Guided Aspir &/or Inj Major Jt | $433.55 | $667.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI · (715) 858-8100 CT ASP/INJ JT 20610 | $585.20 | $616.00 | $338.80–$597.52 | 5% | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI · (715) 858-8100 ARTHCS ASP/INJ MJR JT WO US-TECH | $585.20 | $616.00 | $338.80–$597.52 | 5% | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Stanley Hospital both sides Stanley, WI · (715) 644-5571 Pro Drain/Inject, Joint/Bursa|BILATERAL PROCEDURE | $517.72 | $796.50 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Stanley Hospital both sides Stanley, WI · (715) 644-5571 CT Guided Aspir &/or Inj Major Jt|BILATERAL PROCEDURE | $650.32 | $1,000.50 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $345.15, median $465.18, highest $585.20 — a 1.7× difference within the same market.
Both sides : lowest $517.72, median $517.72, highest $517.72.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $465.18 — 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. 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.