Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Pittsburgh, PA — inpatient
In Pittsburgh, PA, 18 hospitals list a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound as an inpatient: from $241.20 to $2,144.40, with a median of $695.46. The lowest listed price is at UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh — $454.26 less than the median here. Across Pennsylvania, the median is $456.00 at 72 hospitals.
Cash prices at 18 facilities across 11 cities for code 20610, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 6, 2026 and Apr 14, 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 Pittsburgh, PA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh lowest Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 692-5325 ARTHRO ASP/INJ LG JT WO/US | $241.20 | $402.00 | $160.80–$361.80 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 ARTHRO ASP/INJ LG JT WO/US | $282.00 | $470.00 | $163.09–$399.50 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC McKeesport McKeesport, PA · (412) 664-2000 ARTHRO ASP/INJ MAJOR JOINT | $282.00 | $470.00 | $163.09–$399.50 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 ARTHRO ASP/INJ LG JT/BUR WO/US | $303.00 | $505.00 | $328.25–$429.25 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 ARTHRO ASP/INJ MAJOR JOINT | $303.00 | $505.00 | $328.25–$429.25 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 ARTHRO ASP/INJ LG JT WO/US | $303.00 | $505.00 | $328.25–$429.25 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| UPMC East Monroeville, PA · (412) 357-3000 ARTHRO ASP/INJ LG JT WO/US | $336.00 | $560.00 | $190.40–$448.00 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 ARTHRO ASP/INJ LG JT WO/US | $337.20 | $562.00 | $146.68–$477.70 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC St Margaret Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 784-4000 ARTHROCENTESIS LG JOINT | $337.20 | $562.00 | $146.68–$477.70 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC ARTHRO ASP/INJ MAJOR JOINT | $361.80 | $603.00 | $217.08–$560.79 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC ARTHROCENTESIS LG JOINT | $361.80 | $603.00 | $217.08–$560.79 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC ARTHRO ASP/INJ LG JT WO/US | $361.80 | $603.00 | $217.08–$560.79 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Passavant - McCandless Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 367-6700 HC ARTHRO ASP INJ MJR J/BU WO US | $361.80 | $603.00 | $217.08–$560.79 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 ARTHRO ASP/INJ LG JT WO/US | $379.80 | $633.00 | $474.75–$557.04 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Jameson New Castle, PA · (724) 656-4100 ARTHROCENTESIS LG JOINT | $379.80 | $633.00 | $474.75–$557.04 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC ARTHRO ASP INJ MJR J/BU WO US | $403.20 | $672.00 | $241.92–$618.24 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC ARTHRO ASP/INJ MAJOR JOINT | $403.20 | $672.00 | $241.92–$618.24 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC ARTHROCENTESIS LG JOINT | $403.20 | $672.00 | $241.92–$618.24 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 641-4010 HC ARTHRO ASP/INJ LG JT WO/US | $403.20 | $672.00 | $241.92–$618.24 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Washington Washington, PA · (724) 225-7000 LARGE JOINT ASPIRATION | $572.40 | $954.00 | $667.80 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Washington Washington, PA · (724) 225-7000 HIP ASPIRATION- E | $572.40 | $954.00 | $667.80 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Washington Washington, PA · (724) 225-7000 ARHTRO/ASPRTN/INJCTN-LGE JOINT | $572.40 | $954.00 | $667.80 | 40% | — source file |
| Alle-Kiski Medical Center Natrona Heights, PA · (412) 224-5100 HC ARTHCS MAJOR JT/BUR WO US GUID | $818.51 | $1,063.00 | $24.68–$185.26 | 23% | Apr 14, 2026 source file |
| Canonsburg General Hospital Canonsburg, PA · (724) 745-6100 HC ARTHCS MAJOR JT/BUR WO US GUID | $829.14 | $1,063.00 | $24.68–$185.26 | 22% | Apr 14, 2026 source file |
| Forbes Hospital Monroeville, PA · (412) 858-2000 HC ARTHCS MAJOR JT/BUR WO US GUID | $829.14 | $1,063.00 | $24.68–$185.26 | 22% | Apr 14, 2026 source file |
| AHN Wexford Hospital Wexford, PA · (412) 295-3319 HC ARTHCS MAJOR JT/BUR WO US GUID | $830.28 | $1,122.00 | $24.68–$185.26 | 26% | Apr 14, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 ARTHRO ASP/INJ LG JT WO/US | $855.00 | $1,425.00 | $436.05–$1,282.50 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 ARTHRO ASP/INJ MAJOR JOINT | $855.00 | $1,425.00 | $436.05–$1,282.50 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 232-8111 ARTHROCENTESIS LG JOINT | $855.00 | $1,425.00 | $436.05–$1,282.50 | 40% | — source file |
| West Penn Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 578-5000 HC ARTHCS MAJOR JT/BUR WO US GUID | $862.13 | $1,181.00 | $24.68–$185.26 | 27% | Apr 14, 2026 source file |
| West Penn Hospital Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 578-5000 HC ARTHCS MAJOR JT/BUR WO US GUID | $897.56 | $1,181.00 | $24.68–$185.26 | 24% | Apr 14, 2026 source file |
| Jefferson Regional Medical Center Jefferson Hills, PA · (412) 469-5000 HC ARTHCS MAJOR JT/BUR WO US GUID | $908.82 | $1,122.00 | $24.68–$185.26 | 19% | Apr 14, 2026 source file |
| Highlands Hospital Connellsville, PA · (724) 628-1500 ARTHROCENTEISIS MAJOR JOINT | $2,144.40 | $3,574.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Monogahela Valley Hospital Monongahela, PA · (724) 258-1000 INJECTION PROC, THER MAJ JOINT | $2,144.40 | $3,574.00 | $1,608.30 | 40% | — source file |
| Highlands Hospital Connellsville, PA · (724) 628-1500 ARTHROCEN ASP OR INJ MAJOR JT | $2,144.40 | $3,574.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Monogahela Valley Hospital Monongahela, PA · (724) 258-1000 CT DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $2,144.40 | $3,574.00 | $1,608.30 | 40% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $241.20, median $695.46, highest $2,144.40 — a 8.9× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 19 facilities here, median $667.80 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 10 of 17 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 3 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.