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Shoulder Joint Contrast Injection (X-ray or MRI/CT)

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 23350

A doctor injects a contrast dye or other fluid directly into the shoulder joint using a thin needle, usually guided by live X-ray. This step is done right before an arthrogram, MRI, or CT scan so the joint's cartilage, ligaments, and lining show up more clearly on the images. It is typically used to look for tears in the rotator cuff or labrum, or other joint problems that a plain scan might miss.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Shoulder Joint Contrast Injection (X-ray or MRI/CT) cost?

$191

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $191 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $166 from a physician practice, and about $372 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 8 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$166$91.20 to $288
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$372$166 to $2,239

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $372 · 10th to 90th $68 to $4,467Professionalmedian $166 · 10th to 90th $51 to $447
$10$50$200$1K$5Kfacility $372professional $166

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$4,570.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$48.98
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$457.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$263.03
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$190.55
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$407.38
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$58.88
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$354.81
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$257.04
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$48.98
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$288.40
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$380.19
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$1,995.26
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$51.29
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$346.74
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$2,951.21
Typical High
$2,951.21
Wellcare
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$1,862.09

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 1.7 times more in South Dakota than in New Hampshire. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

North Carolina· 4th of 51

$191

SD $229NH $132

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.