Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Houston, TX
In Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, 14 hospitals list a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound: from $180.21 to $2,099.50, with a median of $1,337.00. The lowest listed price is at Harris Health and 1 other hospital — $1,156.79 less than the median here. Across Texas, the median is $592.44 at 92 hospitals.
Cash prices at 14 facilities across 9 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 Mar 5, 2026 and Sep 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris Health lowest Houston, TX DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JOINT/BURSA W/O US | $180.21 | $381.00 | $190.50–$304.80 | 53% | — source file |
| Harris Health lowest Taub Loop Houston, TX · (713) 873-2000 ECHG EMG PROC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPN MAJ JT HIP/SHOULDR | $180.21 | $381.00 | $190.50–$304.80 | 53% | — source file |
| Harris Health lowest Taub Loop Houston, TX · (713) 873-2000 DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JOINT/BURSA W/O US | $180.21 | $381.00 | $190.50–$304.80 | 53% | — source file |
| Harris Health lowest Houston, TX ECHG EMG PROC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPN MAJ JT HIP/SHOULDR | $180.21 | $381.00 | $190.50–$304.80 | 53% | — source file |
| Harris Health Houston, TX ECHG EC PROC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $283.25 | $381.00 | $96.01–$304.80 | 26% | — source file |
| Harris Health Taub Loop Houston, TX · (713) 873-2000 ECHG PROC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPN MAJ JT HIP/SHOULDR | $283.25 | $381.00 | $40.00–$304.80 | 26% | — source file |
| Harris Health Taub Loop Houston, TX · (713) 873-2000 ECHG EC PROC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $283.25 | $381.00 | $96.01–$304.80 | 26% | — source file |
| Harris Health Houston, TX ECHG PROC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPN MAJ JT HIP/SHOULDR | $283.25 | $381.00 | $40.00–$304.80 | 26% | — source file |
| Hsa St. Joseph Houston, TX · (713) 757-1000 DRN/INJ MAJ JNT/BRSA WO US | $303.42 | $1,188.43 | $292.80–$431.69 | 74% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR INJ MAJOR JT BURSA W/O US | $732.31 | $1,093.00 | $27.96–$1,038.35 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR INJ MAJOR JT BURSA W/O US | $732.31 | $1,093.00 | $27.96–$1,038.35 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR INJ MAJOR JT BURSA W/O US | $732.31 | $1,093.00 | $27.96–$1,038.35 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Shriners Childrens Texas Galveston, TX · (409) 770-6600 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US | $1,163.55 | $1,163.55 | $16.00–$988.00 | — | — source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ARTHROCENTESIS/ASPIRATION & OR INJ LRG JOINT WITHOUT US GUIDE (IR) | $1,299.13 | $1,939.00 | $27.96–$1,842.05 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ARTHROCENTESIS/ASPIRATION & OR INJ LRG JOINT WITHOUT US GUIDE (IR) | $1,299.13 | $1,939.00 | $27.96–$1,842.05 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ARTHROCENTESIS/ASPIRATION & OR INJ LRG JOINT WITHOUT US GUIDE (IR) | $1,299.13 | $1,939.00 | $27.96–$1,842.05 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ASPIRATION/INJECTION MAJOR JOINT/BURSA, SHOULDER/KNEE/HIP/SUB | $1,300.47 | $1,941.00 | $27.96–$1,843.95 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ASPIRATION/INJECTION MAJOR JOINT/BURSA, SHOULDER/KNEE/HIP/SUB | $1,300.47 | $1,941.00 | $27.96–$1,843.95 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ARTHROCENTESIS/ASPIRATION & OR INJ LRG JOINT WITHOUT US GUIDE (R/F) | $1,300.47 | $1,941.00 | $27.96–$1,843.95 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ARTHROCENTESIS/ASPIRATION & OR INJ LRG JOINT WITHOUT US GUIDE (CT) | $1,300.47 | $1,941.00 | $27.96–$1,843.95 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ARTHROCENTESIS/ASPIRATION & OR INJ LRG JOINT WITHOUT US GUIDE (R/F) | $1,300.47 | $1,941.00 | $27.96–$1,843.95 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ARTHROCENTESIS/ASPIRATION & OR INJ LRG JOINT WITHOUT US GUIDE (CT) | $1,300.47 | $1,941.00 | $27.96–$1,843.95 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ASPIRATION/INJECTION MAJOR JOINT/BURSA, SHOULDER/KNEE/HIP/SUB | $1,300.47 | $1,941.00 | $27.96–$1,843.95 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ARTHROCENTESIS/ASPIRATION & OR INJ LRG JOINT WITHOUT US GUIDE (R/F) | $1,300.47 | $1,941.00 | $27.96–$1,843.95 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC ARTHROCENTESIS/ASPIRATION & OR INJ LRG JOINT WITHOUT US GUIDE (CT) | $1,300.47 | $1,941.00 | $27.96–$1,843.95 | 33% | Mar 5, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital Nassau Bay, TX · (281) 333-5503 HC ARTHRO/ASPIR/INJ MJR JNT/BURSA WO US | $1,337.00 | $2,674.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital Cypress, TX · (346) 618-1506 HC ARTHRO/ASPIR/INJ MJR JNT/BURSA WO US | $1,337.00 | $2,674.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX · (281) 274-8000 HC ARTHRO/ASPIR/INJ MJR JNT/BURSA WO US | $1,337.00 | $2,674.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital The Woodlands, TX · (936) 270-2000 HC ARTHRO/ASPIR/INJ MJR JNT/BURSA WO US | $1,337.00 | $2,674.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist West Houston Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 522-1000 HC ARTHRO/ASPIR/INJ MJR JNT/BURSA WO US | $1,337.00 | $2,674.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital Baytown, TX · (281) 420-8600 HC ARTHRO/ASPIR/INJ MJR JNT/BURSA WO US | $1,337.00 | $2,674.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Willowbrook Hospital Houston, TX · (281) 477-1000 HC ARTHRO/ASPIR/INJ MJR JNT/BURSA WO US | $1,337.00 | $2,674.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital Katy, TX HC ARTHRO/ASPIR/INJ MJR JNT/BURSA WO US | $1,337.00 | $2,674.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Methodist Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 790-2221 HC ARTHRO/ASPIR/INJ MJR JNT/BURSA WO US | $2,099.50 | $4,199.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Hsa St. Joseph Houston, TX · (713) 757-1000 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US | $3,542.51 | — | $3,418.52–$5,058.96 | — | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $180.21, median $1,337.00, highest $2,099.50 — a 11.7× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 12 facilities here, median $1,337.00. 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 4 of 5 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 2 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.