CPT 20610: joint injection or drainage (major joint). What Medicare pays and what to ask
A joint injection often appears next to a visit charge and a drug charge. Here is what 20610 covers and the Medicare rate.
What this code means
CPT 20610 is draining or injecting a major joint or bursa, such as the knee, shoulder or hip, without ultrasound guidance. The ultrasound-guided version is 20611.
The drug injected, such as a steroid, is billed on its own line.
Why the bill can be much higher than the Medicare rate
Some bills include both a visit and the injection on the same day. Both can be legitimate, but each should reflect a separate service.
If imaging guidance was used, a different code applies.
| If a line is billed at | It would be |
|---|---|
| 5x the Medicare rate | $344.05 |
| 10x the Medicare rate | $688.10 |
| 20x the Medicare rate | $1,376.20 |
The Medicare rate is a published benchmark, not a legal ceiling on what a provider may charge. Our free scan flags a line as worth a closer look when it is billed at more than 10 times the Medicare rate.
Questions worth asking before you pay
- Which joint was treated, and what drug was injected?
- Was ultrasound used, and does the code match?
- Is a visit billed as well, and why?
Check every line against the official Medicare rates in about a minute. The scan is free.
Related codes
Source: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (CMS, July 2026 release), national payment amount, non-facility setting. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rates change each year and a hospital bill can include charges that the benchmark does not cover.