Compare 17 pulmonologists in Bakersfield, CA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
17
Pulmonologists
100%
Accepting patients
94%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Bakersfield has 17 pulmonologists. The most common credential is MD (94%). 100% are currently accepting new patients. Practitioners see patients in neighborhoods including Downtown Bakersfield, Oleander-Sunset, Westchester, and Riverlakes.
Nearby hospitals include Kern Medical Center, Adventist Health Bakersfield, and Mercy Hospital Bakersfield. Local training programs run through California State University, Bakersfield and Bakersfield College. Kern County faces one of the most severe physician shortages in California, with roughly 40 doctors per 100,000 residents.
The most commonly accepted carriers among Bakersfield pulmonologists include medicare, unitedhealthcare, and qhp-19636. 100% accept Medicare.
The first visit includes a review of your symptoms, smoking history, environmental exposures, and current medications. The pulmonologist will listen to your lungs and may order pulmonary function tests (PFTs), which measure how well your lungs move air and exchange oxygen. PFTs involve breathing into a mouthpiece in various patterns. You may also need imaging or a bronchoscopy depending on your symptoms.
See a pulmonologist for a chronic cough lasting more than eight weeks, shortness of breath that worsens over time, COPD management, severe or hard-to-control asthma, recurrent pneumonia, abnormal chest imaging (nodules, masses, scarring), coughing up blood, occupational lung exposures (asbestos, silica), or sleep-disordered breathing that a sleep study has confirmed.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · Pulmonary function test: $150-500 · Chest CT: $300-3,000 · Bronchoscopy: $1,500-5,000
Pulmonologists manage moderate to severe asthma, perform pulmonary function testing, and develop treatment plans that reduce flares and keep your airways open.
COPD is a progressive lung condition most commonly caused by smoking. Pulmonologists prescribe inhalers, pulmonary rehabilitation, and oxygen therapy to slow progression and improve quality of life.
Loud snoring, gasping during sleep, and daytime exhaustion may indicate obstructive sleep apnea. Pulmonologists order sleep studies and manage CPAP therapy or other treatments.
A cough that lasts more than eight weeks has a cause, whether it is acid reflux, postnasal drip, asthma, or something else. Pulmonologists work through the differential to find and treat it.
Pulmonary fibrosis and other interstitial lung diseases cause progressive scarring of the lungs. Pulmonologists manage these complex conditions with medication and monitoring to slow disease progression.
Bakersfield, CA has 17 licensed pulmonologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of pulmonologists in Bakersfield, CA are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
The most commonly accepted carriers among pulmonologists in Bakersfield, CA include medicare, unitedhealthcare, and qhp-19636. Coverage and in-network status vary by provider, so it is worth confirming directly with the office before scheduling. FindClarity shows accepted insurance for each provider.
An office visit copay is $30 to $75. Pulmonary function tests cost $150 to $500. A chest CT runs $300 to $3,000. A bronchoscopy costs $1,500 to $5,000. Actual costs in Bakersfield, CA depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Brand-name inhalers can be expensive ($200 to $500 per month). Generic alternatives exist for many common inhalers. Ask your pulmonologist about cost-effective options and manufacturer savings programs.
Look for a board-certified provider who accepts your insurance and practices near you. Bakersfield, CA has 17 pulmonologists. Reading patient reviews and checking hospital affiliations can help narrow your choice. FindClarity lets you compare providers by credentials, insurance, and location.
100% of pulmonologists in Bakersfield, CA accept Medicare. Medicare covers pulmonology visits, PFTs, and pulmonary rehabilitation (up to 36 sessions). Supplemental oxygen and nebulizers are covered under durable medical equipment. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some pulmonologists in Bakersfield, CA accept Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers pulmonology services in all states. Inhaler coverage varies by state formulary. Prior authorization is common for newer biologic asthma medications. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Medi-Cal participation before scheduling.
Top accepted carriers in Bakersfield, CA include medicare, unitedhealthcare, and qhp-19636.
Pulmonology visits are covered as specialist visits. PFTs and imaging require prior authorization in many plans. Inhalers can be expensive, with brand-name combination inhalers costing $200 to $500 per month without insurance. Ask about generic alternatives and manufacturer copay programs. Pulmonary rehabilitation is covered by Medicare and most insurance plans with a physician order.