Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Russellville, AL — inpatient
In Russellville, AL, 2 hospitals list a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound as an inpatient: from $45.68 to $1,290.00, with a median of $667.84. The lowest listed price is at Russellville Hospital — $622.16 less than the median here. Across Alabama, the median is $398.00 at 38 hospitals.
Cash prices at 2 facilities across 2 cities for code 20610, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jul 31, 2026 and Jul 31, 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 Russellville, AL.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russellville Hospital lowest Russellville, AL · (256) 332-1611 INJ MAJOR JT W/O US | $45.68 | $175.68 | $60.84–$260.47 | 74% | Jul 31, 2026 source file |
| Russellville Hospital Russellville, AL · (256) 332-1611 INJ MAJOR JT W/O US KNEE | $70.52 | $271.24 | $60.84–$271.24 | 74% | Jul 31, 2026 source file |
| Russellville Hospital Russellville, AL · (256) 332-1611 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US | $70.69 | $271.89 | $60.84–$271.89 | 74% | Jul 31, 2026 source file |
| Russellville Hospital Russellville, AL · (256) 332-1611 CT LARGE JOINT INJ | $211.21 | $812.36 | $60.84–$487.42 | 74% | Jul 31, 2026 source file |
| Red Bay Hospital Red Bay, AL · (256) 356-9532 REAMER AR-1409 AR-1410 AR-1411 | $1,290.00 | $1,290.00 | $335.40–$1,241.10 | — | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $45.68, median $667.84, highest $1,290.00 — a 28.2× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $667.84 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 1 of 2 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 1 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.