Surgery and procedures CPT 20610 Inpatient — admitted to hospital

Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Lexington, KY — inpatient

In Lexington-Fayette, KY, 1 hospital lists a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound (one side of the body) as an inpatient: from $717.98 to $717.98, with a median of $717.98. Across Kentucky, the median is $1,105.20 at 15 hospitals.

Cash prices at 1 facility for code 20610, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 22, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Apr 1, 2026.

Lowest$717.98University of Kentucky Hospital
Median$717.98half pay less
Highest$717.98in this market
Difference1.0×highest vs lowest

Where each hospital's price falls

Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Lexington-Fayette, KY.

median
Lowest $717.98Highest $1,078.98
one sideboth sides

Hospitals, cheapest first

HospitalCash price List priceInsurers payOff listFile date
University of Kentucky Hospital one side lowest Lexington, KY · (859) 257-2278 Hc Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Major Jt/Bursa W/O Us Left $717.98 $1,794.96 — 60% Apr 1, 2026
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University of Kentucky Hospital one side Lexington, KY · (859) 257-2278 Hc Ct Guided Arthrocentesis Aspiration/Injection Major Joint/Bursa W/O Us-Unilateral $718.65 $1,796.63 — 60% Apr 1, 2026
source file
University of Kentucky Hospital one side Lexington, KY · (859) 257-2278 Hc Arthrocentesis Aspiration/Injection Major Joint/Bursa Without Us-Unilateral $718.65 $1,796.63 — 60% Apr 1, 2026
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University of Kentucky Hospital one side Lexington, KY · (859) 257-2278 Hc Pbb Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Major Jt/Bursa W/O Us Left $1,078.98 $2,697.46 — 60% Apr 1, 2026
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University of Kentucky Hospital both sides Lexington, KY · (859) 257-2278 Hc Ct Guided Arthrocentesis Aspiration/Injection Major Joint/Bursa Without Us-Bilateral $1,078.98 $2,697.46 — 60% Apr 1, 2026
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University of Kentucky Hospital both sides Lexington, KY · (859) 257-2278 Hc Arthrocentesis Aspiration/Injection Major Joint/Bursa Without Us-Bilateral $1,078.98 $2,697.46 — 60% Apr 1, 2026
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One side of the body : lowest $717.98, median $717.98, highest $717.98.

Both sides : lowest $1,078.98, median $1,078.98, highest $1,078.98.

The two groups are not comparable and are not averaged together: a price for both sides of the body covers twice the work. Merging them is how a single published "median" ends up far above what one side actually costs.

As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $1,112.68 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.

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.