Aspiration And/or Injection Of Fluid From Small Joint Using Ultrasound Guidance in California

California Pricing in Context

In California, CPT code 20604 (Aspiration And/or Injection Of Fluid From Small Joint Using Ultrasound Guidance) carries an average Medicare payment of $63.60 — 12% above the national benchmark of $57.00. 602 providers across the state submitted claims for this procedure in 2023, performing 5.4K total services. Individual payments in CA ranged from N/A at the low end to N/A at the high end, reflecting differences in provider setting (office vs. facility), modifiers, and the specific geographic locality code applied within the state.

The average billed charge in California is $270.71, which is the figure uninsured patients would most likely encounter before any negotiation or charity discount. Medicare, by statute, only reimburses the allowed amount — the balance between billed and paid is written off under provider participation agreements. Insured patients generally pay a negotiated rate that falls between these two figures; the exact amount depends on plan design, deductible status, and in-network participation. Because California sits above the national Medicare average, commercial rates in the state may also run higher than the US median.

Using RAND 2024 commercial-to-Medicare ratios for Musculoskeletal Surgery procedures, the estimated commercial insurance price in California lands near $200.88, with self-pay cash prices typically around $137.22. Before scheduling, patients can request a Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act, compare cash rates from hospital Machine-Readable Files, and confirm whether the provider is in-network with their specific plan. This page presents CMS reference data for informational use; it does not constitute medical or financial advice.