Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Watertown, NY — inpatient
In Watertown-Fort Drum, NY, 1 hospital lists a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound as an inpatient: from $176.00 to $176.00, with a median of $176.00. Across New York, the median is $364.68 at 90 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 2, 2026 and Feb 2, 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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samaritan Medical Center lowest St. Watertown, NY · (315) 785-4000 ARTHOCENTESIS DIAG | $176.00 | $176.00 | $36.07–$383.16 | — | Feb 2, 2026 source file |
| Samaritan Medical Center St. Watertown, NY · (315) 785-4000 ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JT/BURSA | $196.50 | $196.50 | $36.07–$383.16 | — | Feb 2, 2026 source file |
| Samaritan Medical Center St. Watertown, NY · (315) 785-4000 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US | $196.50 | $196.50 | $36.07–$383.16 | — | Feb 2, 2026 source file |
| Samaritan Medical Center St. Watertown, NY · (315) 785-4000 DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US | $441.50 | $441.50 | $353.20 | — | Feb 2, 2026 source file |
| Samaritan Medical Center St. Watertown, NY · (315) 785-4000 DRAIN/INJECT MAJOR JOINT/BURSA | $607.50 | $607.50 | $486.00 | — | Feb 2, 2026 source file |
| Samaritan Medical Center St. Watertown, NY · (315) 785-4000 ARTHOCENTESIS MAJOR | $1,000.50 | $1,000.50 | $800.40 | — | Feb 2, 2026 source file |
| Samaritan Medical Center St. Watertown, NY · (315) 785-4000 ARHTROCENTESIS MAJOR JT/BURSA | $1,025.00 | $1,025.00 | $820.00 | — | Feb 2, 2026 source file |
| Samaritan Medical Center St. Watertown, NY · (315) 785-4000 ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JT/BURSA | $1,025.00 | $1,025.00 | $820.00 | — | Feb 2, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $176.00, median $176.00, highest $176.00.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $176.00 — 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.