Compare 119 physiatrists (pm&r) in Pittsburgh, PA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
119
Physiatrists (PM&R)
100%
Accepting patients
53%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Pittsburgh is a UPMC town, and there is no getting around it. UPMC is one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the country, and it functions as both a hospital operator and an insurance company. Allegheny Health Network (AHN), backed by Highmark Blue Cross, provides the main alternative. The rivalry between UPMC and Highmark shapes nearly every healthcare decision a Pittsburgh resident makes.
Pittsburgh has 119 physiatrists (pm&r). The most common credential is MD (53%). 100% are currently accepting new patients. Practitioners see patients in neighborhoods including Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Lawrenceville, and Strip District.
The Oakland neighborhood is Pittsburgh's medical hub, home to UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Magee-Womens, and UPMC Children's. Allegheny General Hospital sits on the North Side. Pittsburgh's geography (rivers, bridges, hills) makes cross-city travel unpredictable, so most residents choose the hospital system closest to their neighborhood. The T light rail connects South Hills communities to downtown, but bus routes are the primary transit option for hospital access.
Nearby hospitals include UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Shadyside, and Allegheny General Hospital. Local training programs run through University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Carnegie Mellon University. UPMC is one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the US, employing over 95,000 people.
The Pittsburgh insurance market is a two-player game: UPMC Health Plan and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Employer plans typically align with one system. On the ACA marketplace, both plans compete on price and network breadth. Medicaid managed care is served by UPMC for You, Highmark Wholecare (formerly Gateway Health), and AmeriHealth Caritas. Choosing between the two plans is, effectively, choosing between the two hospital systems. 64% accept Medicare.
The first visit lasts 45 to 60 minutes. The physiatrist will assess your physical function, strength, flexibility, neurological status, and daily activity limitations. They take a comprehensive history including your injury, prior treatments, and functional goals. The evaluation often includes hands-on testing of specific movements and reflexes. The treatment plan is goal-oriented: what do you want to be able to do? From there, they coordinate therapies, prescribe medications, and may perform diagnostic or therapeutic injections.
The first question every new Pittsburgh resident should answer: are you on UPMC insurance or Highmark insurance? Your insurance determines which hospital system and physicians are in-network. This is not optional advice; it is the most important healthcare decision you will make here.
See a physiatrist for rehabilitation after stroke, spinal cord injury, or brain injury, for chronic musculoskeletal pain (back, neck, joint), for disability evaluation and management, for post-amputation care and prosthetic optimization, for nerve and muscle conditions (carpal tunnel, neuropathy), and for return-to-work or return-to-activity planning after any significant injury or surgery.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · EMG/nerve conduction study: $500-1,500 · Joint injection: $100-500 · Inpatient rehab: $1,500-3,000/day
Pittsburgh, PA has 119 licensed physiatrists (pm&r). 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of physiatrists (pm&r) in Pittsburgh, PA are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
The Pittsburgh insurance market is defined by the UPMC Health Plan and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield rivalry. Employer plans tend to offer one or the other, rarely both. On the ACA marketplace, UPMC Health Plan and Highmark compete directly. Medicaid is administered through UPMC for You, Highmark Wholecare (formerly Gateway Health), and AmeriHealth Caritas.
An office visit copay is $30 to $75. An EMG/nerve conduction study costs $500 to $1,500. A joint injection runs $100 to $500. Inpatient rehab costs $1,500 to $3,000 per day. Actual costs in Pittsburgh, PA depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Inpatient rehabilitation stays are typically covered by insurance but may have limits on the number of days. Outpatient therapy (PT, OT, speech) has annual visit caps under many plans. Verify your benefits early in the rehabilitation process.
Pittsburgh healthcare revolves around the UPMC vs. AHN/Highmark divide. UPMC Health Plan members can use UPMC facilities at in-network rates. Highmark members have full access to AHN facilities and limited (though expanding) access to UPMC. Before choosing a primary care doctor, verify that your insurance covers their hospital system.
MD stands for Doctor of Medicine and DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Pittsburgh, PA, 53% hold the MD credential and 17% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
64% of physiatrists (pm&r) in Pittsburgh, PA accept Medicare. Medicare covers physiatry visits, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient therapy services. EMG and nerve conduction studies are covered when medically indicated. Durable medical equipment (braces, wheelchairs) is covered under Part B. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
UPMC and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield have been in a long-running business dispute because UPMC operates its own competing insurance plan. As a result, UPMC hospitals and many UPMC physicians are not fully in-network for Highmark insurance members, and vice versa. A consent decree required some continued access, but the terms have evolved. Always verify your coverage before scheduling appointments.
It depends. Under various agreements, some UPMC facilities and physicians remain accessible to Highmark members, particularly for emergency care and certain community hospitals. However, flagship UPMC hospitals like Presbyterian and Shadyside may be out-of-network for Highmark plans. Check with both your insurer and the provider before booking.
Top accepted carriers in Pittsburgh, PA include unitedhealthcare, medicare, centene, qhp-54192, and molina.
Physiatry visits are covered as specialist visits under medical insurance. Rehabilitation services (physical therapy, occupational therapy) are covered with standard copays and visit limits. EMG/nerve conduction studies ordered by a physiatrist are covered when medically indicated. Inpatient rehabilitation for stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury is covered under medical and Medicare benefits.