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

South Carolina Pricing in Context

In South Carolina, CPT code 20604 (Aspiration And/or Injection Of Fluid From Small Joint Using Ultrasound Guidance) carries an average Medicare payment of $55.88 — 2% below the national benchmark of $57.00. 115 providers across the state submitted claims for this procedure in 2023, performing 1.4K total services. Individual payments in SC 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 South Carolina is $306.52, 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 South Carolina sits below the national Medicare average, commercial rates in the state may also run lower than the US median.

Using RAND 2024 commercial-to-Medicare ratios for Musculoskeletal Surgery procedures, the estimated commercial insurance price in South Carolina lands near $175.39, with self-pay cash prices typically around $140.27. 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.