Joint injection (medium joint) cost in Maryland
In Maryland, 6 hospitals publish a cash price for joint injection or drainage, medium joint (wrist, elbow, ankle): from $112.34 to $528.76, with a median of $212.50. The lowest price is at TidalHealth Peninsula (Salisbury). The highest price is 4.7× the lowest.
- The median here, $212.50, is 44% below the US median of $379.80.
- That is 0.7× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($313.60).
- Maryland ranks 4th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 2 of 6 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Why Maryland prices look low: Maryland is the only state where a commission (the HSCRC) sets hospital rates for every payer, so its hospitals publish prices far below the rest of the country. A separate physician fee may still apply.
Maryland law (Health-General §19-214.1) requires hospitals to give free medically necessary care to patients with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and to cut the bill by 75% up to 250% and 60% up to 300%. With medical debt above 25% of family income in a year, discounts reach up to 500%. Immigration status does not count. Ask the hospital for its financial assistance application. Other states' laws.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 20605. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 27, 2026. See them on a map
Hospitals in Maryland, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| TidalHealth Peninsula lowest Salisbury · Salisbury, MD HC MC EXCISE MALIG LESION TRUNK,ARMS,LEGS .6-1.0 CM | $112.34 | $114.63 | Mar 19, 2026 source file |
| Atlantic General Hospital Berlin · Ocean Pines, MD Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, intermediate joint or bursa (eg, temporomandibular, acromioclavicular, wrist, elbow or ankle, olecranon bursa); without ultrasound guidance | $167.24 | $167.24 | Apr 10, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ INTERM JT/BURS W/O US | $192.19 | $196.11 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| The Kennedy Krieger Institute Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC ARTHROCENTESIS INTERMED JOINT/BURSA | $232.80 | $291.00 | Aug 27, 2026 source file |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ARTHROCENTESIS,ASP/INJ,INTERMED JOINT/BURSA,WO US GUID GLP | $248.80 | $248.80 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Meritus Medical Center Hagerstown · Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV HC Arthrocentesis Aspiration or Injection Intermediate Joint or Bursa Without Ultrasound | $528.76 | $539.55 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 2 | $192.19 | $212.50 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 1 | $528.76 | $528.76 |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 1 | $167.24 | $167.24 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1 | $248.80 | $248.80 |
| Salisbury, MD | 1 | $112.34 | $112.34 |
What joint injection (medium joint) is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Joint injection (medium joint) explained.
Joint injection or drainage, medium joint (wrist, elbow, ankle) in other states
- Alabama$336.00
- Alaska$364.35
- Arizona$442.28
- Arkansas$359.12
- California$608.40
- Colorado$375.15
- Connecticut$629.63
- Delaware$873.97
- District of Columbia$639.39, 3 hospitals
- Florida$570.85
- Georgia$753.87
- Hawaii$688.10
- Idaho$261.70
- Illinois$415.00
- Indiana$427.50
- Iowa$346.20
- Kansas$273.45
- Kentucky$208.80
- Louisiana$258.30
- Maine$190.55
- Massachusetts$541.00
- Michigan$325.00
- Minnesota$305.21
- Mississippi$220.20
- Missouri$338.65
- Montana$205.00
- Nebraska$255.72
- Nevada$333.00
- New Hampshire$275.90
- New Jersey$857.43
- New Mexico$362.56
- New York$457.50
- North Carolina$346.50
- North Dakota$307.63
- Ohio$616.97
- Oklahoma$269.82
- Oregon$343.85
- Pennsylvania$353.80
- Puerto Rico$2,100.00, 3 hospitals
- Rhode Island$1,480.00
- South Carolina$436.20
- South Dakota$484.80
- Tennessee$292.60
- Texas$588.53
- Utah$391.47
- Vermont$278.32
- Virginia$421.50
- Washington$457.47
- West Virginia$343.50
- Wisconsin$320.12
- Wyoming$292.50
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.