Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in St. Louis, MO
In St. Louis, MO-IL, 17 hospitals list a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound: from $83.40 to $1,296.72, with a median of $362.70. The lowest listed price is at Community Hospital of Staunton — $279.30 less than the median here. Across Missouri, the median is $290.88 at 60 hospitals.
- The median here, $362.70, is 18% below the US median of $439.76.
- That is 1.2× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($313.60).
- St. Louis, MO has the lowest median of 2 metro areas in Missouri with at least 10 hospitals pricing this code.
- 2 of 17 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 17 facilities across 15 cities for code 20610, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 6, 2026 and Jun 10, 2026.
Lowest$83.40Community Hospital of Staunton
Median$362.70half of hospitals charge less
Highest$1,296.72in this market
Difference15.5×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 St. Louis, MO-IL.
median
Lowest $83.40Highest $11,842.92
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Hospital of Staunton lowest Staunton, IL · (618) 635-2200 LG JOINT INJ/ASP ADD File of Feb 9, 2026 · source file | $83.40 | $166.80 | $48.23–$151.79 | 50% |
| Gateway Regional Medical Center Granite City, IL · (618) 798-3000 MAJOR JOINT INJECTION File of Mar 30, 2026 · source file | $105.58 | $175.96 | $175.96 | 40% |
| Carlinville Area Hospital Carlinville, IL · (217) 854-3141 Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Major Jt RHC File of Mar 21, 2026 · source file | $115.50 | $165.00 | $59.40–$235.71 | 30% |
| Touchette Regional Hospital one side Cahokia Heights, IL · (618) 332-3060 Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, major joint or bursa (eg, shoulder, hip, knee, subacromial bursa); without ultrasound guidance File of Apr 13, 2026 · source file | $121.21 | $195.50 | $209.95–$2,421.00 | 38% |
| Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital Maryland Heights, MO · (314) 872-6400 Aspiration and/or injection, major joint or bursa (shoulder, hip, knee, subacromial bursa, etc) File of Apr 24, 2026 · source file | $169.84 | $212.30 | — | 20% |
| Community Hospital of Staunton Staunton, IL · (618) 635-2200 ASPIRAT LG JT HIP KNEE SHOULDR File of Feb 9, 2026 · source file | $187.05 | $374.10 | $108.16–$340.43 | 50% |
| Touchette Regional Hospital Cahokia Heights, IL · (618) 332-3060 Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, major joint or bursa (eg, shoulder, hip, knee, subacromial bursa); without ultrasound guidance File of Apr 13, 2026 · source file | $210.49 | $339.50 | $209.95–$2,421.00 | 38% |
| Touchette Regional Hospital one side Cahokia Heights, IL · (618) 332-3060 Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, major joint or bursa (eg, shoulder, hip, knee, subacromial bursa); without ultrasound guidance File of Apr 13, 2026 · source file | $215.76 | $348.00 | $209.95–$2,421.00 | 38% |
| Jersey Community Hospital Jerseyville, IL · (618) 498-6402 AMB Admin Charge (Inj Joint) -> 20610 inj joint major File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $236.00 | $236.00 | $60.00–$188.80 | — |
| Community Hospital of Staunton Staunton, IL · (618) 635-2200 LARGE JNT ASPRTION/INJECT UNI File of Feb 9, 2026 · source file | $246.30 | $492.60 | $142.42–$448.27 | 50% |
| Mercy Hospital Jefferson Festus, MO · (636) 933-1000 Asp/Inj Major Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $266.50 | $410.00 | $3,428.00–$8,893.00 | 35% |
| Mercy Hospital Lincoln Troy, MO · (636) 528-8551 Asp/Inj Major Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $266.50 | $410.00 | $2,087.00–$3,194.00 | 35% |
| Mercy Hospital South Saint Louis, MO · (314) 525-1000 Asp/Inj Major Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $362.70 | $558.00 | $36.27–$558.00 | 35% |
| Mercy Hospital St Louis Saint Louis, MO · (314) 251-6000 Asp/Inj Major Jt WO US Guid+1 more line at this price File of Jun 4, 2026 · source file | $502.45 | $773.00 | $50.25–$773.00 | 35% |
| Anderson Hospital Maryville, IL · (618) 288-5711 LG JOINT INJ/ASP ADD File of Feb 6, 2026 · source file | $515.25 | $1,030.50 | $319.07–$927.45 | 50% |
| Carlinville Area Hospital Carlinville, IL · (217) 854-3141 ARTHROCENTESIS LARGE JOINT OR BURSA File of Mar 21, 2026 · source file | $532.70 | $761.00 | $273.96–$1,087.14 | 30% |
| St Josephs Hospital Hospital Sisters Third Order of St Francis Breese, IL · (618) 526-4511 HC ASPIR/INJECT MAJOR JOINT OR BURSA File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $566.64 | $787.00 | $213.37–$822.34 | 28% |
| St Josephs Hospital Hospital Sisters Third Order of St Francis one side Breese, IL · (618) 526-4511 HC ARTHROCNT/ASP/INJ JNT MAJOR W/O US GUID-RT+1 more line at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $566.64 | $787.00 | $213.37–$822.34 | 28% |
| Jersey Community Hospital Jerseyville, IL · (618) 498-6402 AMB Admin Charge (Joint/IM/IV) -> 20610 inj joint major File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $590.00 | $590.00 | $60.00–$582.40 | — |
| St Josephs Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis one side Highland, IL · (618) 651-2600 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US+1 more line at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $609.84 | $847.00 | $169.40–$847.00 | 28% |
| St Josephs Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis Highland, IL · (618) 651-2600 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $609.84 | $847.00 | $169.40–$847.00 | 28% |
| Mercy Hospital Washington Washington, MO · (636) 239-8000 Asp/Inj Major Jt WO US Guid+1 more line at this price File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $623.35 | $959.00 | $62.34–$7,801.00 | 35% |
| Hshs Holy Family Hospital Greenville, IL · (618) 664-1230 HC ASPIR/INJECT MAJOR JOINT OR BURSA+1 more line at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $662.40 | $920.00 | $224.03–$920.00 | 28% |
| Mercy Hospital South Saint Louis, MO · (314) 525-1000 Bil Asp/Inj Major Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $685.10 | $1,054.00 | $3,153.00–$6,631.00 | 35% |
| Anderson Hospital Maryville, IL · (618) 288-5711 ASPIRAT LG JT HIP KNEE SHOULDR File of Feb 6, 2026 · source file | $687.45 | $1,374.90 | $319.07–$1,300.00 | 50% |
| Mercy Hospital St Louis Saint Louis, MO · (314) 251-6000 Bil Asp/Inj Major Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 4, 2026 · source file | $753.35 | $1,159.00 | $75.34–$1,159.00 | 35% |
| Mercy Hospital Lincoln Troy, MO · (636) 528-8551 Bil Asp/Inj Major Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $825.50 | $1,270.00 | $2,087.00–$3,194.00 | 35% |
| Mercy Hospital Washington Washington, MO · (636) 239-8000 Bil Asp/Inj Major Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $935.35 | $1,439.00 | $3,199.00–$7,801.00 | 35% |
| Mercy Hospital South Saint Louis, MO · (314) 525-1000 Asp/Inj Major Jt W/O US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $956.15 | $1,471.00 | $276.00–$288.00 | 35% |
| Anderson Hospital Maryville, IL · (618) 288-5711 LARGE JNT ASPRTION/INJECT UNI File of Feb 6, 2026 · source file | $994.55 | $1,989.10 | $319.07–$1,790.19 | 50% |
| Mercy Hospital Jefferson Festus, MO · (636) 933-1000 Bil Asp/Inj Major Jt WO US Guid File of Jun 10, 2026 · source file | $1,229.15 | $1,891.00 | $3,428.00–$8,893.00 | 35% |
| Shriners Childrens - St Louis Saint Louis, MO · (314) 432-3600 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $1,282.23 | $1,282.23 | $39.00–$501.82 | — |
| St Elizabeths Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis one side O'Fallon, IL · (618) 234-2120 HC ARTHROCNT/ASP/INJ JNT MAJOR W/O US GUID-RT+1 more line at this price File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $1,296.72 | $1,801.00 | $213.37–$1,801.00 | 28% |
| Jersey Community Hospital one side Jerseyville, IL · (618) 498-6402 XR Joint/Bursa Major Arthr/Asp/Inj Left+1 more line at this price File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $1,305.00 | $1,305.00 | $844.34–$1,109.25 | — |
| Jersey Community Hospital Jerseyville, IL · (618) 498-6402 IR PM Aspirate or INJ Major Joint+2 more lines at this price File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $1,305.00 | $1,305.00 | $60.00–$1,109.25 | — |
| Hshs Holy Family Hospital Greenville, IL · (618) 664-1230 HC ARTHROCNT/ASP/INJ JNT MAJOR W/O US GUID-BIL File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $1,324.80 | $1,840.00 | $224.03–$1,840.00 | 28% |
| St Elizabeths Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis O'Fallon, IL · (618) 234-2120 HC ASPIR/INJECT MAJOR JOINT OR BURSA File of Mar 24, 2026 · source file | $1,828.80 | $2,540.00 | $213.37–$2,540.00 | 28% |
| Jersey Community Hospital Jerseyville, IL · (618) 498-6402 20610-Major Joint Aspirate/Inject w/o US File of Mar 10, 2026 · source file | $2,066.00 | $2,066.00 | $217.39–$1,756.10 | — |
| Shriners Childrens - St Louis Saint Louis, MO · (314) 432-3600 ASPIRATION AND/OR INJECTION OF FLUID FROM LARGE JOINT File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $11,842.92 | $11,842.92 | $39.00–$1,929.00 | — |
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 $83.40, median $362.70, highest $1,296.72 — a 15.5× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 10 facilities here, median $375.63. 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 14 of 16 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.