Cost of a Joint Injection Visit
in Washington
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Washington's integrated health systems and strong Medicaid expansion have created a competitive landscape for joint injection services across the state. Joint Injection visits typically range from $62 to $152 in Washington, with a median negotiated rate of $80 for standard procedures. With over 4,600 active providers offering joint injection services throughout Washington, patients have numerous options across urban centers like Seattle and Spokane as well as rural communities.
Average
$98
Median
$80
Lowest
$62
Highest
$152
Providers
4,606
18% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does joint injection compare to related procedures in Washington?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Biopsy Tangential biopsy of skin | 11102 | $52 | $80 | $220 | 4,477 |
| Abscess Drainage (I&D) Incision and drainage of abscess, simple | 10060 | $80 | $142 | $324 | 4,526 |
| Blood Draw (Venipuncture) Routine venipuncture for blood sample | 36415 | $3 | $3 | $80 | 6,277 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 20610 — Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, major joint). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 20610 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 20610 (Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, major joint), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 20610 covers: the provider's professional fee for joint injection. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Why Joint Injection Visit Costs Vary Across Washington
Washington's healthcare costs run approximately 10% above the national average, driven by higher provider wages and operational expenses in major metropolitan areas. The state's mix of urban academic centers and rural critical access hospitals creates significant cost variation for specialty procedures like joint injections.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Seattle and surrounding Puget Sound communities have concentrated specialist availability, while Eastern Washington counties may have limited joint injection providers requiring longer travel distances. Rural patients often face higher costs due to limited competition and higher overhead expenses at smaller facilities. Telemedicine consultations are increasingly used for follow-up visits in underserved regions.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned outpatient clinics throughout Washington typically charge higher facility fees compared to independent physician practices due to administrative overhead and infrastructure costs. Major health systems like Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and MultiCare command premium rates in their service areas. Ambulatory surgery centers often provide a middle-ground option for cost-conscious patients.
Insurance Market Competition in Washington
Washington maintains robust insurer competition with Premera Blue Cross, Regence BluShield, Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare actively negotiating provider rates. This competitive landscape generally keeps negotiated rates reasonable compared to monopolistic insurance markets in other states. The state insurance exchange also provides additional plan options that can affect out-of-pocket costs for joint injection services.
Physician Supply and Demand in Washington
With over 4,600 providers offering joint injection services, Washington demonstrates adequate specialist supply in most regions, helping maintain competitive pricing. The University of Washington School of Medicine graduates help staff practices throughout the Pacific Northwest, supporting provider availability. Higher physician concentrations in metropolitan areas create pricing pressure, while rural shortage areas may see elevated rates due to limited options.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Joint Injection Costs in Washington
What is the average cost of a Joint Injection visit in Washington without insurance?
Does Washington Medicaid cover Joint Injection visits?
How do I find an affordable Joint Injection near me in Washington?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Joint Injection visit in Washington?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Joint Injection in Washington?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 20610)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin Range: $72 – $487 | $246 |
| 2 | Massachusetts Range: $55 – $538 | $227 |
| 3 | Minnesota Range: $57 – $487 | $224 |
| 4 | Rhode Island Range: $42 – $538 | $223 |
| 5 | Connecticut Range: $44 – $538 | $222 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania Range: $43 – $538 | $220 |
| 7 | Delaware Range: $41 – $538 | $220 |
| 8 | New York Range: $44 – $538 | $220 |
| 9 | Hawaii Range: $52 – $487 | $208 |
| 10 | North Dakota Range: $44 – $307 | $144 |
| 11 | Iowa Range: $61 – $256 | $142 |
| 12 | South Dakota Range: $48 – $268 | $134 |
| 13 | West Virginia Range: $42 – $264 | $131 |
| 14 | Michigan Range: $45 – $254 | $127 |
| 15 | New Hampshire Range: $65 – $185 | $122 |
| 16 | District of Columbia Range: $40 – $221 | $116 |
| 17 | Wyoming Range: $60 – $201 | $116 |
| 18 | Nebraska Range: $56 – $155 | $114 |
| 19 | Kentucky Range: $48 – $209 | $114 |
| 20 | Georgia Range: $45 – $211 | $114 |
| 21 | California Range: $64 – $185 | $112 |
| 22 | Idaho Range: $51 – $202 | $111 |
| 23 | Colorado Range: $45 – $208 | $111 |
| 24 | Indiana Range: $50 – $191 | $110 |
| 25 | Illinois Range: $50 – $191 | $108 |
| 26 | Maine Range: $75 – $128 | $105 |
| 27 | Oregon Range: $58 – $167 | $103 |
| 28 | New Jersey Range: $34 – $205 | $101 |
| 29 | Washington Range: $62 – $152 | $98 |
| 30 | North Carolina Range: $45 – $158 | $95 |
| 31 | New Mexico Range: $51 – $141 | $93 |
| 32 | Vermont Range: $48 – $152 | $92 |
| 33 | Utah Range: $37 – $142 | $90 |
| 34 | Maryland Range: $39 – $167 | $89 |
| 35 | Oklahoma Range: $38 – $136 | $87 |
| 36 | South Carolina Range: $42 – $131 | $83 |
| 37 | Texas Range: $45 – $119 | $83 |
| 38 | Mississippi Range: $38 – $151 | $82 |
| 39 | Montana Range: $70 – $95 | $82 |
| 40 | Alaska Range: $80 – $85 | $82 |
| 41 | Arkansas Range: $47 – $116 | $82 |
| 42 | Virginia Range: $35 – $138 | $80 |
| 43 | Nevada Range: $35 – $140 | $79 |
| 44 | Missouri Range: $43 – $101 | $77 |
| 45 | Louisiana Range: $38 – $115 | $75 |
| 46 | Ohio Range: $38 – $106 | $75 |
| 47 | Alabama Range: $38 – $117 | $74 |
| 48 | Tennessee Range: $42 – $111 | $74 |
| 49 | Kansas Range: $43 – $100 | $70 |
| 50 | Florida Range: $35 – $109 | $66 |
| 51 | Arizona Range: $38 – $102 | $64 |