Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in St. Paul, MN
In St. Paul, MN, 1 hospital lists a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound: from $513.74 to $513.74, with a median of $513.74. Across Minnesota, the median is $369.26 at 54 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 20610, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jun 16, 2026 and Jun 16, 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 St. Paul, MN.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allina United Hospital lowest St. Paul, MN · (651) 241-8000 HCHG ARTHROCENT ASPIR/INJ MAJOR JOINT/BURSA WO US | $513.74 | $1,070.30 | $215.34–$1,070.30 | 52% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina United Hospital St. Paul, MN · (651) 241-8000 HCHG CT INJECTION MAJOR JOINT BURSA | $632.83 | $1,318.40 | $244.24–$3,243.00 | 52% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina United Hospital St. Paul, MN · (651) 241-8000 HCHG IR INJ OR ASP MAJOR JT OR BURSA | $632.83 | $1,318.40 | $244.24–$3,243.00 | 52% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina United Hospital St. Paul, MN · (651) 241-8000 HCHG XR ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT OR BURSA | $632.83 | $1,318.40 | $244.24–$3,243.00 | 52% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina United Hospital St. Paul, MN · (651) 241-8000 HCHG RAD ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIRATION INJECTION MAJOR | $632.83 | $1,318.40 | $244.24–$3,243.00 | 52% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Allina United Hospital St. Paul, MN · (651) 241-8000 HCHG ARTHROCENT/ASPIR/INJ MAJOR JOINT/BURSA WO US | $1,128.24 | $2,350.50 | $244.24–$3,243.00 | 52% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $513.74, median $513.74, highest $513.74.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $513.74. 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 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.