Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Syracuse, NY — inpatient
In Syracuse, NY, 2 hospitals list a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound as an inpatient: from $92.00 to $1,053.00, with a median of $572.50. The lowest listed price is at St Josephs Hospital Health Center — $480.50 less than the median here. Across New York, the median is $349.32 at 65 hospitals.
Cash prices at 2 facilities for code 20610, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 22, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 31, 2026 and Mar 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 Syracuse, NY.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Josephs Hospital Health Center lowest Syracuse, NY · (315) 448-5111 PR Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Injection Major Joint/Bursa W/O U/S Guidance | $92.00 | $92.00 | $12.12–$73.20 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St Josephs Hospital Health Center one side Syracuse, NY · (315) 448-5111 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Lt | $308.75 | $475.00 | $142.50–$1,834.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St Josephs Hospital Health Center one side Syracuse, NY · (315) 448-5111 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $308.75 | $475.00 | $142.50–$1,834.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St Josephs Hospital Health Center Syracuse, NY · (315) 448-5111 HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Bl | $463.45 | $713.00 | $213.90–$1,834.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Crouse Hospital Syracuse, NY · (315) 470-7449 20610 ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJECTION MAJOR JT/BUR | $1,053.00 | $1,053.00 | — | — | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $92.00, median $572.50, highest $1,053.00 — a 11.4× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $572.50 — 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 not 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.