Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in Iowa
In Iowa, 85 hospitals publish a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound: from $47.20 to $1,299.00, with a median of $354.00. The lowest price is at Story County Hospital (Nevada). The highest price is 27.5× the lowest.
- The median here, $354.00, is 20% below the US median of $439.76.
- That is 1.1× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($313.60).
- Iowa ranks 17th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 10 of 85 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 20610. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 7, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$47.20Story County Hospital
Median$354.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$1,299.00in Iowa
Lowest saves$306.80vs the median
Hospitals in Iowa, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Story County Hospital lowest Nevada · Ames, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $47.20 | $59.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Knoxville Hospital & Clinics Knoxville · Pella, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $48.60 | $81.00 | Jan 24, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health - Mercy Hospital, Corning Iowa one side Corning · Corning, IA HC ASPIR/INJ MAJOR JNT/BUR RT HHP | $72.90 | $162.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital of Missouri Valley, Iowa one side Missouri Valley · Omaha, NE-IA HC ASPIR/INJ MAJOR JNT/BUR RT HHP | $81.00 | $162.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Dallas County Hospital Perry · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA SCHED-DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $89.00 | $137.00 | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Clarinda Regional Health Center Clarinda · Clarinda, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $96.75 | $129.00 | Oct 23, 2026 source file |
| Spencer Municipal Hospital one side Spencer · Spencer, IA Asp/Inj Large Joint RT | $98.25 | $131.00 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Shenandoah Medical Center Shenandoah · Shenandoah, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $126.75 | $195.00 | Sep 21, 2026 source file |
| Madison County Memorial Hospital Winterset · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $133.60 | $167.00 | Oct 21, 2026 source file |
| Decatur County Hospital Leon · Leon, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $142.40 | $178.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| Boone County Hospital Boone · Ames, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $151.20 | $189.00 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| Waverly Health Center Waverly · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $154.44 | $297.00 | Oct 19, 2026 source file |
| St Anthony Regional Hospital and Nursing Home Carroll · Carroll, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $159.00 | $159.00 | Nov 3, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Clinton Medical Center one side Clinton · Clinton, IA HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Lt | $165.75 | $255.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Aspiration/Inj Major Joint | $173.00 | $173.00 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Hansen Family Hospital Iowa Falls · Iowa Falls, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $173.96 | $173.96 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Shelby County Chris A Myrtue Memorial Hospital Harlan · Harlan, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $175.16 | $302.00 | Apr 21, 2026 source file |
| Avera Merrill Pioneer one side Rock Rapids · Rock Rapids, IA | $175.57 | $181.00 | — source file |
| Rawford County Memorial Hospital Denison · Denison, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $182.40 | $228.00 | Jul 27, 2026 source file |
| Adair County Memorial Hospital Greenfield · Greenfield, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $183.75 | $245.00 | Sep 2, 2026 source file |
| CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs one side Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA HC ASPIR/INJ MAJOR JNT/BUR RT HHP | $195.65 | $455.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Manning Regional Healthcare Center Manning · Carroll, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $196.31 | $293.00 | Oct 16, 2026 source file |
| Sioux Center Health one side Sioux Center · Sioux Center, IA | $196.91 | $203.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Washington County Hospital Washington · Iowa City, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $204.00 | $272.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Council Bluffs · Omaha, NE-IA Arthrocentesis aspiration and/or injection major j | $205.20 | $684.00 | Feb 15, 2026 source file |
| WinnMed Decorah · Decorah, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $205.80 | $294.00 | Oct 13, 2026 source file |
| Orange City Municipal Hospital Orange City · Orange City, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $207.20 | $259.00 | Sep 23, 2026 source file |
| Hawarden Regional Healthcare Harwarden · Harwarden, IA MAJOR JOINT INJ W/O GUIDANCE | $208.12 | $244.85 | Apr 24, 2026 source file |
| Wayne County Hospital Corydon · Corydon, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $209.00 | $209.00 | Jun 10, 2026 source file |
| Cass County Memorial Hospital Atlantic · Atlantic, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $214.90 | $307.00 | Jun 1, 2026 source file |
| Guthrie County Hospital Guthrie Center · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $224.00 | $224.00 | Sep 26, 2026 source file |
| Audubon County Memorial Hospital Audubon · Audubon, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $230.00 | $230.00 | Sep 14, 2026 source file |
| Hancock County Health System Britt · Britt, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $243.75 | $325.00 | Oct 20, 2026 source file |
| Franklin General Hospital Hampton · Hampton, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $249.30 | $277.00 | Nov 3, 2026 source file |
| Veterans Memorial Hospital City of Waukon Ia Waukon · Waukon, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $250.80 | $440.00 | Oct 8, 2026 source file |
| Community Memorial Hospital Medical Center Sumner · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $265.16 | $331.46 | Jun 18, 2026 source file |
| Lakes Regional Hospital one side Spirit Lake · Spirit Lake, IA | $269.80 | $284.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center one side Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL FL Knee Steroid Injection- R | $306.00 | $510.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Cherokee Regional Medical Center Cherokee · Cherokee, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $309.60 | $344.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Floyd County Memorial Hospital Commission Charles City · Charles City, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $313.60 | $784.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Van Diest Medical Center Webster City · Webster City, IA DRAIN/INJ JOINT/BURSA W/O US | $321.60 | $402.00 | Feb 5, 2026 source file |
| Loring Hospital Sac City · Sac City, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $344.00 | $430.00 | Aug 25, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center one side Davenport · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Fluoro Guide Needle BX/ASP Hip Lt | $354.00 | $590.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center Dewitt · Clinton, IA GHS INJ MAJOR JOINT OR BURSA | $354.00 | $590.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Kossuth Regional Health Center Algona · Algona, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $369.60 | $462.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Regional Medical Center one side Manchester · Manchester, IA ASPIRATION AND/OR INJECTION OF FLUID FROM LARGE JOINT | $394.40 | $493.00 | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
| Jefferson County Hospital Fairfield · Fairfield, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $397.20 | $662.00 | Aug 20, 2026 source file |
| Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Storm Lake · Storm Lake, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $397.60 | $497.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinic West Union · West Union, IA HCHG 20610 ARTHROCENTESIS, ASP/INJ, LRG JNT | $407.48 | $686.00 | Jun 27, 2026 source file |
| The Finley Hospital Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $439.52 | $549.39 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Stewart Memorial Community Hospital Lake City · Lake City, IA DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $451.00 | $564.00 | Oct 8, 2024 source file |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell · Grinnell, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $503.37 | $629.21 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Grundy County Memorial Hospital Grundy Center · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $517.60 | $647.00 | Jun 29, 2026 source file |
| Virginia Gay Hospital Vinton · Cedar Rapids, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $518.40 | $648.00 | Aug 13, 2026 source file |
| Sanford Sheldon Medical Center Sheldon · Sheldon, IA TX RM 20610 ARTHROCENT ASP INJ JOINT BURSA MAJOR WO US GUID | $520.00 | $650.00 | Mar 4, 2026 source file |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center Sioux City · Sioux City, IA-NE-SD HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $528.97 | $661.21 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Greene County Medical Center Jefferson · Jefferson, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $530.32 | $947.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Avera Holy Family Hospital one side Estherville · Estherville, IA | $532.53 | $549.00 | — source file |
| MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center one side Dubuque · Dubuque, IA HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Lt | $533.00 | $820.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Pocahontas Community Hospital Pocahontas · Pocahontas, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $541.00 | $541.00 | Mar 29, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center - New Hampton one side New Hampton · New Hampton, IA HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Lt | $574.60 | $884.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Elkader Medical Center one side Elkader · Elkader, IA HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Lt | $574.60 | $884.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Newton Medical Center one side Newton · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $574.60 | $884.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Trinity - Bettendorf Bettendorf · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $584.71 | $730.88 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Unity Healthcare Muscatine · Muscatine, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $584.71 | $730.88 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center Fort Dodge · Fort Dodge, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $633.96 | $792.44 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| St Luke's Methodist Hospital Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $640.85 | $801.06 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Jones Regional Medical Center Anamosa · Cedar Rapids, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $647.67 | $809.58 | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Allen Hospital Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $652.80 | $816.00 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health Marshalltown Marshalltown · Marshalltown, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $652.80 | $816.00 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center one side Mason City · Mason City, IA HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $661.05 | $1,017.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Guttenberg Municipal Hospital Guttenberg · Guttenberg, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $677.60 | $847.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $678.24 | $847.80 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Van Buren County Hospital Keosauqua · Keosauqua, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $679.00 | $970.00 | Jul 20, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center one side Waterloo · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $730.60 | $1,124.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Jackson County Regional Health Center Maquoketa · Maquoketa, IA GHS INJ ASP MAJ JOINT SHOULDER HIP KNE | $764.00 | $764.00 | Aug 11, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB ARTHROCENTESIS, ASPIRATION OR INJECTION OF MAJOR JOINT OR BURSA | $786.10 | $1,123.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City · Iowa City, IA HB ARTHROCENTESIS, ASPIRATION OR INJECTION OF MAJOR JOINT OR BURSA | $786.10 | $1,123.00 | Mar 11, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center one side Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $844.35 | $1,299.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Belmond Community Hospital Belmond · Belmond, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $865.20 | $1,442.00 | Apr 22, 2026 source file |
| Iowa Specialty Hospital-Clarion Clarion · Clarion, IA Aspiration and/or injection of fluid from large joint | $865.20 | $1,442.00 | Jun 11, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne Centerville Medical Center one side Centerville · Centerville, IA HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Lt | $884.00 | $884.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Sartori Memorial Hospital one side Cedar Falls · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $1,047.15 | $1,611.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Humboldt · Humboldt, IA HC DRAIN/INJ MAJOR JNT/BURSA | $1,075.50 | $1,195.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center one side West Des Moines · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HC Arthrocentesis/Aspiration/Inj Major Joint/Bursa W/O US Guidance Rt | $1,299.00 | $1,299.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 8 | $89.00 | $399.30 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 6 | $154.44 | $585.20 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 3 | $306.00 | $354.00 |
| Iowa City, IA | 3 | $204.00 | $786.10 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 3 | $81.00 | $195.65 |
| Ames, IA | 2 | $47.20 | $99.20 |
| Carroll, IA | 2 | $159.00 | $177.66 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 2 | $518.40 | $583.04 |
| Clinton, IA | 2 | $165.75 | $259.88 |
| Dubuque, IA | 2 | $439.52 | $486.26 |
| Algona, IA | 1 | $369.60 | $369.60 |
| Atlantic, IA | 1 | $214.90 | $214.90 |
| Audubon, IA | 1 | $230.00 | $230.00 |
| Belmond, IA | 1 | $865.20 | $865.20 |
| Britt, IA | 1 | $243.75 | $243.75 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $640.85 | $640.85 |
| Centerville, IA | 1 | $884.00 | $884.00 |
| Charles City, IA | 1 | $313.60 | $313.60 |
| Cherokee, IA | 1 | $309.60 | $309.60 |
| Clarinda, IA | 1 | $96.75 | $96.75 |
| Clarion, IA | 1 | $865.20 | $865.20 |
| Corning, IA | 1 | $72.90 | $72.90 |
| Corydon, IA | 1 | $209.00 | $209.00 |
| Decorah, IA | 1 | $205.80 | $205.80 |
| Denison, IA | 1 | $182.40 | $182.40 |
| Elkader, IA | 1 | $574.60 | $574.60 |
| Estherville, IA | 1 | $532.53 | $532.53 |
| Fairfield, IA | 1 | $397.20 | $397.20 |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $633.96 | $633.96 |
| Greenfield, IA | 1 | $183.75 | $183.75 |
| Grinnell, IA | 1 | $503.37 | $503.37 |
| Guttenberg, IA | 1 | $677.60 | $677.60 |
| Hampton, IA | 1 | $249.30 | $249.30 |
| Harlan, IA | 1 | $175.16 | $175.16 |
| Harwarden, IA | 1 | $208.12 | $208.12 |
| Humboldt, IA | 1 | $1,075.50 | $1,075.50 |
| Iowa Falls, IA | 1 | $173.96 | $173.96 |
| Jefferson, IA | 1 | $530.32 | $530.32 |
| Keosauqua, IA | 1 | $679.00 | $679.00 |
| Lake City, IA | 1 | $451.00 | $451.00 |
| Leon, IA | 1 | $142.40 | $142.40 |
| Manchester, IA | 1 | $394.40 | $394.40 |
| Maquoketa, IA | 1 | $764.00 | $764.00 |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $652.80 | $652.80 |
| Mason City, IA | 1 | $661.05 | $661.05 |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $584.71 | $584.71 |
| New Hampton, IA | 1 | $574.60 | $574.60 |
| Orange City, IA | 1 | $207.20 | $207.20 |
| Pocahontas, IA | 1 | $541.00 | $541.00 |
| Pella, IA | 1 | $48.60 | $48.60 |
| Rock Rapids, IA | 1 | $175.57 | $175.57 |
| Sac City, IA | 1 | $344.00 | $344.00 |
| Sheldon, IA | 1 | $520.00 | $520.00 |
| Shenandoah, IA | 1 | $126.75 | $126.75 |
| Sioux Center, IA | 1 | $196.91 | $196.91 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $528.97 | $528.97 |
| Spencer, IA | 1 | $98.25 | $98.25 |
| Spirit Lake, IA | 1 | $269.80 | $269.80 |
| Storm Lake, IA | 1 | $397.60 | $397.60 |
| Waukon, IA | 1 | $250.80 | $250.80 |
| Webster City, IA | 1 | $321.60 | $321.60 |
| West Union, IA | 1 | $407.48 | $407.48 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What joint injection (cortisone shot) is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Joint injection (cortisone shot) explained.
Injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound in other states
- Alabama$385.00
- Alaska$418.00
- Arizona$567.43
- Arkansas$399.31
- California$951.60
- Colorado$344.34
- Connecticut$652.05
- Delaware$960.45
- District of Columbia$557.92, 3 hospitals
- Florida$668.20
- Georgia$905.19
- Hawaii$599.25
- Idaho$305.00
- Illinois$494.00
- Indiana$412.92
- Kansas$342.23
- Kentucky$391.16
- Louisiana$258.30
- Maine$269.32
- Maryland$240.42
- Massachusetts$566.25
- Michigan$422.07
- Minnesota$362.85
- Mississippi$248.95
- Missouri$290.88
- Montana$275.85
- Nebraska$198.69
- Nevada$333.00
- New Hampshire$336.29
- New Jersey$1,065.25
- New Mexico$427.38
- New York$505.82
- North Carolina$418.80
- North Dakota$303.20
- Ohio$696.00
- Oklahoma$366.05
- Oregon$312.00
- Pennsylvania$468.12
- Puerto Rico$2,100.00, 3 hospitals
- Rhode Island$1,510.00
- South Carolina$646.52
- South Dakota$688.00
- Tennessee$343.47
- Texas$592.44
- Utah$460.95
- Vermont$681.90
- Virginia$387.46
- Washington$484.86
- West Virginia$343.50
- Wisconsin$399.36
- Wyoming$408.00
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.