Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Philadelphia, PA
In Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, 26 hospitals list a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound: from $170.90 to $1,797.46, with a median of $520.20. The lowest listed price is at Virtua Memorial Hospital and 4 other hospitals — $349.30 less than the median here. Across Pennsylvania, the median is $468.12 at 107 hospitals.
- The median here, $520.20, is 18% above the US median of $439.76.
- That is 1.7× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($313.60).
- Philadelphia, PA ranks 2nd of 2 metro areas in Pennsylvania by median, cheapest first.
- 8 of 26 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 26 facilities across 21 cities for code 20610, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Oct 26, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Dec 31, 2025 and Sep 21, 2026.
Lowest$170.90Virtua Memorial Hospital + 4 more
Median$520.20half of hospitals charge less
Highest$1,797.46in this market
Difference10.5×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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
median
Lowest $170.90Highest $11,025.90
one sideboth sides
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtua Memorial Hospital lowest Mount Holly, NJ · (609) 267-0700 HC Arthrocentesis Major Joint / Bursa W/O US Guide File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $170.90 | $1,709.00 | $322.61–$16,391.00 | 90% |
| Virtua West Jersey Hospital - Voorhees lowest Voorhees, NJ · (856) 247-3000 HC Arthrocentesis Major Joint / Bursa W/O US Guide+1 more line at this price File of Jun 1, 2026 · source file | $170.90 | $1,709.00 | $322.61–$16,391.00 | 90% |
| Virtua West Jersey Hospital - Marlton lowest Voorhees, NJ · (856) 247-3000 HC Arthrocentesis Major Joint / Bursa W/O US Guide File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $170.90 | $1,709.00 | $322.61–$16,391.00 | 90% |
| Virtua Willingboro Hospital lowest Willinboro, NJ · (609) 835-2900 HC Arthrocentesis Major Joint / Bursa W/O US Guide File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $170.90 | $1,709.00 | $322.61–$16,391.00 | 90% |
| Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes lowest Camden, NJ · (856) 886-5373 HC Arthrocentesis Major Joint / Bursa W/O US Guide File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $170.90 | $1,709.00 | $322.61–$16,391.00 | 90% |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton, MD · (410) 392-7009 ARTHROCENTESIS,ASP/INJ,MAJOR JOINT/BURSA,WO US GUID GLP+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $288.65 | $288.65 | — | — |
| Lower Bucks Hospital Bristol, PA · (215) 785-9200 Hc Asp/Drain Large Joint/Bursa+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $301.00 | $1,190.52 | $207.03–$5,410.40 | 75% |
| Roxborough Memorial Hospital Philadelphia, PA · (215) 483-9900 Hc Asp/Drain Large Joint/Bursa File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $313.00 | $1,403.62 | $244.09–$1,403.62 | 78% |
| Riddle Memorial Hospital Media, PA · (610) 566-9400 Hc Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Major Jt/Bursa W/O Us File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $456.00 | $1,140.00 | — | 60% |
| Lankenau Medical Center Wynnewood, PA · (610) 645-2000 Hc Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Major Jt/Bursa W/O Us File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $456.00 | $1,140.00 | — | 60% |
| The Bryn Mawr Hospital Bryn Mawr, PA · (610) 526-3000 Hc Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Major Jt/Bursa W/O Us File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $456.00 | $1,140.00 | — | 60% |
| Paoli Hospital Paoli, PA · (610) 648-1000 Hc Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Major Jt/Bursa W/O Us File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $456.00 | $1,140.00 | — | 60% |
| Paoli Hospital Paoli, PA · (610) 648-1000 Hc Arthrocent Mjr Jt/Bur/Gan+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $500.80 | $1,252.00 | — | 60% |
| The Bryn Mawr Hospital Bryn Mawr, PA · (610) 526-3000 Hc Arthrocent Asp/Inj Jt Major+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $500.80 | $1,252.00 | — | 60% |
| Riddle Memorial Hospital Media, PA · (610) 566-9400 Hc Arthrocent Asp/Inj Jt Major+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $500.80 | $1,252.00 | — | 60% |
| Lankenau Medical Center Wynnewood, PA · (610) 645-2000 Hc Arthrocent Asp/Inj Jt Major+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $500.80 | $1,252.00 | — | 60% |
| St Luke's Hospital - Upper Bucks Campus Quakertown, PA · (267) 985-1000 HB DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA (MAJOR JOINT OR BURSA) File of Feb 26, 2026 · source file | $520.20 | $578.00 | $23.50–$1,044.31 | 10% |
| St Luke's Hospital - Grand View Campus Sellersville, PA · (215) 453-4000 HB DRAIN/INJECT JOINT/BURSA (MAJOR JOINT OR BURSA) File of Feb 26, 2026 · source file | $520.20 | $578.00 | $28.20–$3,079.45 | 10% |
| St. Francis Hospital one side Wilmington, DE · (302) 421-4100 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $710.45 | $1,093.00 | $326.71–$2,608.09 | 35% |
| St Mary Medical Center one side Langhorne, PA · (215) 750-2003 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Lt+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $800.80 | $1,232.00 | $27.03–$3,782.00 | 35% |
| Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital one side Darby, PA · (215) 237-4000 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Lt+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $856.05 | $1,317.00 | $31.73–$3,742.00 | 35% |
| St. Francis Hospital Wilmington, DE · (302) 421-4100 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Bl File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $1,066.00 | $1,640.00 | $326.71–$2,608.09 | 35% |
| St Mary Medical Center Langhorne, PA · (215) 750-2003 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Bl File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $1,201.20 | $1,848.00 | $27.03–$3,782.00 | 35% |
| Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital Darby, PA · (215) 237-4000 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Bl File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $1,284.40 | $1,976.00 | $31.73–$3,742.00 | 35% |
| St. Francis Hospital one side Wilmington, DE · (302) 421-4100 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $1,306.35 | — | $326.71–$2,608.09 | — |
| Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center Meadowbrook, PA · (215) 947-3000 Inject/Aspirate Major Joint - ACU+1 more line at this price File of Sep 21, 2026 · source file | $1,333.40 | $2,222.33 | $310.84–$2,906.00 | 40% |
| Nazareth Hospital one side Philadelphia, PA · (215) 335-6000 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt+1 more line at this price File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $1,372.80 | $2,112.00 | $34.08–$3,742.00 | 35% |
| Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center Meadowbrook, PA · (215) 947-3000 Insertion Needle Jnt or Bursa+1 more line at this price File of Sep 21, 2026 · source file | $1,399.99 | $2,333.31 | $236.00–$2,906.00 | 40% |
| Shriners Childrens - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · (215) 430-4000 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of Mar 19, 2026 · source file | $1,433.54 | $1,433.54 | $23.50–$441.49 | — |
| Shriners Childrens - Philadelphia one side Philadelphia, PA · (215) 430-4000 ASPIRATION AND/OR INJECTION OF FLUID FROM LARGE JOINT File of Mar 19, 2026 · source file | $1,433.54 | $1,433.54 | $315.35–$441.49 | — |
| Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware Wilmington, DE · (302) 651-4000 Injection/Aspiration Large Joint/Bursa W/Out Uls Guidance+1 more line at this price File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $1,452.00 | $1,452.00 | — | — |
| St Mary Medical Center one side Langhorne, PA · (215) 750-2003 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $1,488.43 | — | $27.03–$3,782.00 | — |
| Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital one side Darby, PA · (215) 237-4000 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $1,521.06 | — | $31.73–$3,742.00 | — |
| Inspira Medical Center Elmer Elmer, NJ · (856) 363-1000 ARTHROCENTESIS LARGE JOINT+4 more lines at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $1,621.29 | $1,621.29 | $87.37–$12,612.00 | — |
| Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill Mullica Hill, NJ · (856) 363-1000 CT ARTHROCENT LARGE JOINT+4 more lines at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $1,621.29 | $1,621.29 | $87.37–$12,612.00 | — |
| Inspira Medical Center Mannington Salem, NJ CT ARTHROCENT LARGE JOINT+4 more lines at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $1,621.29 | $1,621.29 | $87.37–$12,612.00 | — |
| Inspira Health Center Woodbury Woodbury, NJ ARTHROCENTESIS LARGE JOINT+4 more lines at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $1,621.29 | $1,621.29 | $87.37–$12,612.00 | — |
| The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · (215) 590-1000 It Arthrocent,Asp or Inj: Large Jt+1 more line at this price File of Dec 31, 2025 · source file | $1,797.46 | $1,797.46 | $31.73–$9,018.00 | — |
| Nazareth Hospital Philadelphia, PA · (215) 335-6000 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Bl File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $2,059.20 | $3,168.00 | $34.08–$3,742.00 | 35% |
| Nazareth Hospital one side Philadelphia, PA · (215) 335-6000 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $6,925.81 | — | $34.08–$3,742.00 | — |
| Shriners Childrens - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · (215) 430-4000 ASPIRATION AND/OR INJECTION OF FLUID FROM LARGE JOINT File of Mar 19, 2026 · source file | $11,025.90 | $11,025.90 | $23.50–$988.00 | — |
| Inspira Health Center Woodbury both sides Woodbury, NJ ARTHROCENTESIS LG JOINT BILATERAL File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $3,242.58 | $3,242.58 | $87.37–$6,872.00 | — |
| Inspira Medical Center Mannington both sides Salem, NJ ARTHROCENTESIS LG JOINT BILATERAL File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $3,242.58 | $3,242.58 | $87.37–$6,872.00 | — |
| Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill both sides Mullica Hill, NJ · (856) 363-1000 ARTHROCENTESIS LG JOINT BILATERAL File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $3,242.58 | $3,242.58 | $87.37–$6,872.00 | — |
| Inspira Medical Center Elmer both sides Elmer, NJ · (856) 363-1000 ARTHROCENTESIS LG JOINT BILATERAL File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $3,242.58 | $3,242.58 | $87.37–$6,872.00 | — |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Outpatient: lowest $170.90, median $520.20, highest $1,797.46 — a 10.5× difference within the same market.
Both sides : lowest $3,242.58, median $3,242.58, highest $3,242.58.
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 inpatient, the same code is billed by 17 facilities here, median $800.80. 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 19 of 20 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 5 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 joint injection (cortisone shot) is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Joint injection (cortisone shot) explained.