Price Checker / CPT 20610
How much does Joint injection (large joint, e.g. knee) cost?
CPT 20610 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 56x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$100–$210
What this should cost
With insurance
~$41,500
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$260
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $8,909 is $8,749 over the fair price (about 56x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Joint injection (large joint, e.g. knee)
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlinville Area Hospital Carlinville, IL | $100,000 | — | 145228% |
| Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care - Carmel Noblesville, IN | $172 | — | 145228% |
| Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care - Fishers Noblesville, IN | $172 | — | 145228% |
| Riverview Health Noblesville Hospital Noblesville, IN | $172 | — | 145228% |
| Riverview Health Westfield Hospital Noblesville, IN | $172 | — | 145228% |
| Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital , NY | $2,290 | — | 110401% |
| Alhambra Hospital Medical Center ALHAMBRA, CA | — | — | 72564% |
| Cox Barton County Hospital LAMAR, MO | $1,445 | — | 29852% |
| Cox Monett Hospital MONETT, MO | $1,445 | — | 29852% |
| The Christ Hospital Inpatient Psychiatry , OH | $17,841 | $1,533 | 25828% |
| The Christ Hospital Inpatient Rehab , OH | $17,841 | $1,533 | 25828% |
| The Christ Hospital Liberty , OH | $17,841 | $1,533 | 25828% |
| The Christ Hospital , OH | $17,841 | $1,533 | 25828% |
| Mather Hospital , NY | — | $4,595 | 22210% |
| Lenox Hill Hospital NEW YORK, NY | — | $4,595 | 21983% |
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 Joint injection (large joint, e.g. knee)
CPT code 20610 refers to joint injection (large joint, e.g. knee) (billing description: "Drain/inj joint/bursa w/o us"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $40 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $69 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.