Compare 18 rheumatologists in Tulsa, OK. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
18
Rheumatologists
100%
Accepting patients
61%
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 18 rheumatologists. The most common credential is MD (61%). 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. 72% accept Medicare.
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.
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 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
Tornado season and severe weather stress are part of life in eastern Oklahoma. Allergies are also persistent, with tree, grass, and ragweed pollen seasons overlapping from March through October.
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.
Tulsa, OK has 18 licensed rheumatologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of rheumatologists 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 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 Tulsa, OK 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.
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, 61% hold the MD credential and 39% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
72% of rheumatologists in Tulsa, OK 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.
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-98905, and qhp-87571.
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.