Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Reading, PA — inpatient
In Reading, PA, 1 hospital lists a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound as an inpatient: from $499.13 to $499.13, with a median of $499.13. Across Pennsylvania, the median is $456.00 at 72 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 — and —.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Reading, PA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Joseph Regional Health Network lowest Reading, PA · (610) 378-2000 ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JT | $499.13 | $1,919.00 | $265.36–$1,696.78 | 74% | — source file |
| St Joseph Regional Health Network one side Reading, PA · (610) 378-2000 CT Joint Major Arthrocentesis/Asp/Inj Rt | $499.13 | $1,919.00 | $265.36–$1,696.78 | 74% | — source file |
| St Joseph Regional Health Network one side Reading, PA · (610) 378-2000 CT Joint Major Arthrocentesis/Asp/Inj Lt | $499.13 | $1,919.00 | $265.36–$1,696.78 | 74% | — source file |
| St Joseph Regional Health Network one side Reading, PA · (610) 378-2000 IR Joint, Major LT Drain or Inj w/oUS | $499.13 | $1,919.00 | $265.36–$1,696.78 | 74% | — source file |
| St Joseph Regional Health Network one side Reading, PA · (610) 378-2000 IR Joint, Major RT Drain or Inj w/oUS | $499.13 | $1,919.00 | $265.36–$1,696.78 | 74% | — source file |
| St Joseph Regional Health Network lowest Reading, PA · (610) 378-2000 XR Aspiration LRG Jt(Hip, Shoulder,Knee) | $499.13 | $1,919.00 | $265.36–$1,696.78 | 74% | — source file |
| St Joseph Regional Health Network lowest Reading, PA · (610) 378-2000 XR Joint Inj Major Hip, Knee Shoulder | $499.13 | $1,919.00 | $265.36–$1,696.78 | 74% | — source file |
| St Joseph Regional Health Network lowest Reading, PA · (610) 378-2000 20610 Arthrocentesis Maj Joint | $499.13 | $1,919.00 | $265.36–$1,696.78 | 74% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $499.13, median $499.13, highest $499.13.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $499.13 — 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.