Compare 47 nephrologists in Tulsa, OK. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
47
Nephrologists
100%
Accepting patients
72%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Tulsa's healthcare runs on a two-system engine: Saint Francis Health System on the south side and Ascension St. John on the north, with Hillcrest filling the middle. The city's osteopathic medical school at OSU gives Tulsa an unusual strength in primary care training, and that pipeline keeps the region better staffed than much of rural Oklahoma.
Tulsa has 47 nephrologists. The most common credential is MD (72%). 100% are currently accepting new patients. Practitioners see patients in neighborhoods including Cherry Street, Brookside, Blue Dome District, and Kendall-Whittier.
Saint Francis Hospital anchors the south Tulsa medical corridor along Yale Avenue, while Ascension St. John Medical Center serves the north side from its Utica Avenue campus. Hillcrest Medical Center sits near downtown, connecting midtown and the inner neighborhoods. Most specialty practices cluster within a few miles of these three hospitals. Tulsa's grid layout makes navigation straightforward, and drive times across the metro rarely exceed 25 minutes.
Nearby hospitals include Saint Francis Health System, Hillcrest Medical Center, and Ascension St. John Medical Center. Local training programs run through Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. Saint Francis Health System is the largest hospital in Oklahoma by bed count and a major employer in the Tulsa metro.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma is the largest commercial carrier. SoonerCare covers a significant share of the population following Medicaid expansion. CommunityCare, a Tulsa-based health plan affiliated with Saint Francis, is popular for employer groups. UnitedHealthcare and Aetna round out the employer-sponsored market. 74% accept Medicare.
The first visit includes a thorough review of your kidney function labs (creatinine, GFR, urinalysis), blood pressure readings, medications, and medical history. The nephrologist will assess the cause and stage of kidney disease and develop a management plan focused on slowing progression. This often involves medication adjustments, dietary changes, and monitoring. If dialysis is likely in the future, they will discuss access planning and options well in advance.
Most Tulsa primary care offices can schedule new patients within two weeks. OSU Medical Center and the OU-Tulsa clinic network both operate community-facing practices that accept a broad range of insurance.
See a nephrologist if your PCP identifies declining kidney function (elevated creatinine, low GFR), protein in your urine, difficult-to-control high blood pressure despite multiple medications, recurrent kidney stones, electrolyte abnormalities, or if you are approaching the need for dialysis. Your primary care doctor will typically refer you when kidney function drops below a certain threshold.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · Kidney function panel: $50-200 · Dialysis: $250-500 per session · Kidney transplant: $250,000-400,000+
Tulsa, OK has 47 licensed nephrologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of nephrologists in Tulsa, OK are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
SoonerCare (Oklahoma Medicaid) is the state's managed care program and is accepted at most major Tulsa hospitals and clinics. For marketplace plans, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma and CommunityCare are the primary carriers. Employer plans commonly feature BlueCross, UnitedHealthcare, or Aetna.
An office visit copay is $30 to $75. A kidney function panel costs $50 to $200. Each dialysis session costs $250 to $500. A kidney transplant runs $250,000 to $400,000 or more. Actual costs in Tulsa, OK depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Dialysis costs are largely covered by Medicare. For CKD patients not yet on dialysis, newer medications like SGLT2 inhibitors can slow progression but may require prior authorization. Ask about manufacturer assistance programs for expensive kidney medications.
Tulsa is well-served compared to the rest of Oklahoma, but some specialties, particularly endocrinology and rheumatology, have limited availability. Saint Francis, Ascension St. John, and Hillcrest each run their own physician networks, so check which system your insurance favors.
MD stands for Doctor of Medicine and DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Tulsa, OK, 72% hold the MD credential and 13% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
74% of nephrologists in Tulsa, OK accept Medicare. Medicare covers dialysis for all patients with end-stage kidney disease, regardless of age. Medicare also covers kidney transplant evaluation and surgery. Monthly lab work is covered for dialysis patients. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
SoonerCare is Oklahoma's Medicaid program, expanded in 2021 to cover adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level. Most Tulsa hospitals and a large portion of primary care and specialty providers accept it. You can apply through the Oklahoma Health Care Authority website.
Yes. Tulsa has a well-developed behavioral health network, including 12 & 12, DVIS, and the Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health. Many accept SoonerCare and offer outpatient and residential programs.
Top accepted carriers in Tulsa, OK include unitedhealthcare, medicare, qhp-58944, qhp-87571, and qhp-98905.
Nephrology visits are covered as specialist visits. Medicare covers dialysis for all patients with end-stage kidney disease regardless of age. Dialysis and transplant are among the most expensive treatments in medicine. If you are approaching dialysis, your nephrologist's office can help navigate insurance and disability benefits. Medications for CKD, especially newer ones like SGLT2 inhibitors, may require prior authorization.