Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in San Luis Obispo, CA — inpatient
In San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA, 1 hospital lists a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound as an inpatient: from $370.05 to $370.05, with a median of $370.05. Across California, the median is $733.02 at 134 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 20610, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 28, 2026 and Feb 28, 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 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dignity Community Care lowest San Luis Obispo, CA · (805) 543-5353 ARTH ASP MJR JT WO US UNI | $370.05 | $944.00 | $254.88–$925.12 | 61% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Dignity Community Care San Luis Obispo, CA · (805) 543-5353 ARTHROCEN ASP MAJOR JT WO | $553.12 | $1,411.00 | $380.97–$1,382.78 | 61% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
| Dignity Community Care San Luis Obispo, CA · (805) 543-5353 ARTH ASP MJR JT WO US BIL | $597.41 | $1,524.00 | $411.48–$1,493.52 | 61% | Feb 28, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $370.05, median $370.05, highest $370.05.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $350.45 — 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.