Price Checker / CPT 20606
How much does Drain/inj Joint/bursa W/us cost?
CPT 20606 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 26x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$140–$280
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,250
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$350
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $5,450 is $5,240 over the fair price (about 26x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Drain/inj Joint/bursa W/us
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beartooth Billings Clinic RED LODGE, MT | $20,096 | — | 21235% |
| Wyoming County Community Health System Warsaw, NY | $1,100 | — | 2554% |
| Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital , NY | $2,235 | $894 | 2273% |
| Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital Greenville, KY | $2,208 | — | 2010% |
| Delta Memorial Hospital DUMAS, AR | $1,611 | $1,289 | 1610% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About Drain/inj Joint/bursa W/us
CPT code 20606 refers to drain/inj joint/bursa w/us (billing description: "Drain/inj joint/bursa w/us"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $45 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $94 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.