Compare 101 rheumatologists in Los Angeles, CA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
101
Rheumatologists
100%
Accepting patients
83%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
LA doesn't have one healthcare system. It has dozens, layered across a metro that stretches 60 miles in every direction. The result is extraordinary depth of specialty care, especially around Cedars-Sinai, UCLA, and Keck, but finding the right provider often means navigating competing hospital networks and long drive times.
Los Angeles has 101 rheumatologists. The most common credential is MD (83%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Most healthcare trips in LA are car trips. The Medical Center corridor along Beverly Boulevard and the Westwood cluster around UCLA are the two densest provider hubs. Patients on the Eastside rely on Keck and LA County+USC, while the Valley routes through Providence hospitals in Burbank and Mission Hills. Budget an extra 20 minutes for parking at any major campus.
Providers practice throughout Los Angeles. Beverly Hills is known for cosmetic and specialty practices, with easy access to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Santa Monica is providence Saint John's Health Center anchors healthcare in this beachside community. Hollywood is providers along Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset serve a large, diverse community with several urgent care options. Westwood is home to UCLA Medical Center, one of the top-ranked hospitals in the country.
Nearby hospitals include Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, and Keck Hospital of USC. Local training programs run through University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and University of Southern California (USC). Los Angeles County has over 30,000 licensed physicians, one of the highest concentrations in the country.
The first visit takes 45 to 60 minutes. The rheumatologist will perform a detailed joint exam (checking for swelling, warmth, and tenderness in every joint), review your blood work, and take a thorough history of your symptoms including when they started, what triggers them, and how they have progressed. They may order additional labs, X-rays, or ultrasound. Treatment plans often involve medication adjustments over several visits to find the right combination.
Ask which hospital system your new doctor is affiliated with before your first visit. Referrals within UCLA Health, Cedars-Sinai, or Keck stay inside those networks, and crossing between them can mean starting over with new patient paperwork.
See a rheumatologist for persistent joint pain or swelling in multiple joints, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, unexplained rashes combined with joint pain, positive autoimmune blood tests (ANA, rheumatoid factor), gout attacks, chronic widespread pain or fatigue your PCP suspects is fibromyalgia, or any condition where your immune system appears to be causing inflammation.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · Rheumatoid factor/ANA panel: $100-300 · Biologic infusion: $1,000-5,000 per treatment · Joint ultrasound: $200-500
Air quality remains a concern, especially in the San Fernando Valley and Inland Empire-adjacent areas. Wildfire smoke events have become more frequent and can trigger respiratory flare-ups across the basin.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that attacks the joints. Rheumatologists prescribe disease-modifying drugs early to prevent joint damage and manage the condition long-term.
Lupus can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs. Rheumatologists manage flares, monitor organ involvement, and adjust treatment to keep the disease under control.
Wear-and-tear arthritis causes joint pain and stiffness that worsens over time. Rheumatologists help distinguish it from inflammatory arthritis and develop management plans that keep you active.
Sudden, intense joint pain (often in the big toe) may be gout. Rheumatologists confirm the diagnosis, treat acute flares, and prescribe long-term uric acid-lowering therapy to prevent future attacks.
Widespread pain, fatigue, and brain fog that cannot be explained by other conditions may be fibromyalgia. Rheumatologists diagnose it, rule out other causes, and create a multifaceted treatment plan.
Los Angeles, CA has 101 licensed rheumatologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of rheumatologists in Los Angeles, CA are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Covered California enrollment is strong in LA County, with LA Care and Health Net as the dominant Medi-Cal managed care plans. Many private employers offer Blue Shield, Anthem, or Kaiser. If you're on Medi-Cal, check whether your provider accepts LA Care or Health Net specifically, as not all do.
An office visit copay is $30 to $75. A rheumatoid factor/ANA panel costs $100 to $300. Biologic infusions cost $1,000 to $5,000 per treatment. Joint ultrasound runs $200 to $500. Actual costs in Los Angeles, CA depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Biologic medications are the biggest cost driver in rheumatology. Biosimilars (generic-equivalent biologics) can significantly reduce costs. Manufacturer copay programs can bring patient costs down to $5 to $25 per month. Ask your rheumatologist about all financial assistance options.
In LA, the biggest factor in finding the right provider is hospital network. UCLA Health, Cedars-Sinai, and Keck/USC each operate extensive outpatient systems across the metro. Choosing a primary care doctor within your preferred network makes specialist referrals much smoother.
MD stands for Doctor of Medicine and DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Los Angeles, CA, 83% hold the MD credential and 5% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
62% of rheumatologists in Los Angeles, CA accept Medicare. Medicare covers rheumatology visits and medically necessary treatments, including biologic infusions administered in the office (Part B). Oral biologic medications are covered under Part D. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
It's not required, but it helps. LA's major systems (UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, Keck/USC, Providence) each have their own referral networks, patient portals, and imaging centers. Staying within one system reduces duplicate tests and simplifies specialist referrals.
LA County has providers who speak over 90 languages. Korean-speaking providers cluster in Koreatown, Armenian-speaking in Glendale, Spanish-speaking across much of East and South LA, and Mandarin/Cantonese-speaking in the San Gabriel Valley. Use FindClarity's language filters to narrow your search.
Top accepted carriers in Los Angeles, CA include medicare, unitedhealthcare, centene, qhp-54192, and qhp-31981.
Rheumatology visits are covered as specialist visits. Biologic medications (Humira, Enbrel, Rinvoq, etc.) are expensive, often $2,000 to $6,000 per month before insurance. Most are covered under specialty pharmacy benefits with prior authorization. Manufacturer copay assistance programs can dramatically reduce out-of-pocket costs. Your rheumatologist's office typically handles authorization paperwork.