Compare 7 nephrologists in Bend, OR. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
7
Nephrologists
100%
Accepting patients
100%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Bend is a one-hospital town that punches above its weight. St. Charles Health System handles everything from ski injuries to cardiac surgery for a region that stretches across three counties. The outdoor recreation culture here shapes both the patient population and the providers who choose to practice in Central Oregon.
Bend has 7 nephrologists. The most common credential is MD (100%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
St. Charles Bend sits on the east side of town along NE Neff Road, and nearly all specialty care runs through or adjacent to that campus. Primary care and dental practices are spread across the Old Mill District, NorthWest Crossing, and the 27th Street medical corridor. There is no meaningful public transit, so a car is essential. For services St. Charles does not offer, patients drive roughly three hours to Portland.
Providers practice throughout Bend. Old Mill District is a commercial hub along the Deschutes River with medical offices and proximity to St. Charles Bend hospital. NorthWest Crossing is a newer mixed-use neighborhood on Bend's west side with growing primary care and dental options. Downtown Bend is the walkable core of the city with established practices and easy access to St. Charles. Awbrey Butte is a hillside residential area on the west side, a short drive from St. Charles and specialty clinics along NE Neff Road.
St. Charles Bend is a major hospital in the area. Oregon State University-Cascades trains practitioners locally. St. Charles Health System is the largest employer in Central Oregon and the only hospital system serving a region the size of some East Coast states.
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.
Many primary care panels in Bend are full, so new residents should start searching for a provider as soon as they arrive. St. Charles has a physician referral line that tracks who is accepting new patients.
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+
Bend, OR has 7 licensed nephrologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of nephrologists in Bend, OR are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
PacificSource and Moda are the most common carriers in the Bend market. Oregon Health Plan is accepted at St. Charles and most primary care offices. Kaiser Permanente does not have a presence in Central Oregon, so Kaiser members traveling to Bend should plan accordingly.
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 Bend, OR 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.
With only one hospital system in town, most specialists are affiliated with St. Charles. Primary care options include St. Charles Medical Group, Bend Memorial Clinic, and a handful of independent practices. If your insurance network excludes St. Charles, your local options narrow considerably.
86% of nephrologists in Bend, OR 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.
Some nephrologists in Bend, OR accept Oregon Health Plan, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers nephrology services and dialysis in all states. Coverage for newer CKD medications (SGLT2 inhibitors) varies by state formulary. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Oregon Health Plan participation before scheduling.
St. Charles maintains referral relationships with OHSU in Portland and other specialty centers in the Willamette Valley. For non-emergency specialty care, expect a roughly three-hour drive to Portland. Telehealth consultations with Portland-based specialists are increasingly common.
Yes. Bend has experienced rapid population growth, and many primary care panels are closed to new patients. St. Charles operates a provider referral service, and Bend Memorial Clinic maintains a waitlist. New residents should begin looking within their first week.
Top accepted carriers in Bend, OR include medicare, unitedhealthcare, qhp-73836, qhp-63474, and qhp-56707.
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.