Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Madison, WI — inpatient
In Madison, 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 $444.00, with a median of $394.58. The lowest listed price is at Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital — $49.43 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 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 28, 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 Madison, WI.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital lowest Portage, WI · (608) 742-4131 Pro Drain/Inject, Joint/Bursa | $345.15 | $531.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital lowest Portage, WI · (608) 742-4131 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $345.15 | $531.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital Portage, WI · (608) 742-4131 CT Guided Aspir &/or Inj Major Jt | $433.55 | $667.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Meriter Madison, WI · (608) 417-6210 PR DRAIN/INJECT LARGE JOINT/BURSA | $444.00 | $555.00 | $40.57–$527.25 | 20% | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Meriter Madison, WI · (608) 417-6210 HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $2,295.63 | $2,869.53 | $659.99–$2,726.05 | 20% | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital both sides Portage, WI · (608) 742-4131 Pro Drain/Inject, Joint/Bursa|BILATERAL PROCEDURE | $517.72 | $796.50 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital both sides Portage, WI · (608) 742-4131 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 $394.58, highest $444.00 — a 1.3× 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 $394.58 — 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.