Circle City care for your Indianapolis rheumatology journey
Circle City care for your Indianapolis rheumatology journey
From Monument Circle to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, from Mass Ave to Broad Ripple—Indianapolis energy shouldn’t be limited by autoimmune symptoms.
AndHealth brings expert rheumatology care to you, helping manage RA, AS, and PsA so you can fully embrace everything the Racing Capital of the World offers.
Conditions we treat
Indianapolis represents Indiana’s healthcare hub, but even in a city with major medical centers, autoimmune rheumatology conditions require specialized, coordinated care that fits your downtown lifestyle or suburban routine. Whether you’re working in the business district, attending Butler University, or raising a family in neighborhoods like Broad Ripple or Fountain Square, managing RA, AS, or PsA shouldn’t derail your Indianapolis life.
The Indianapolis advantage includes access to cutting-edge research through IU Health and collaboration with Indiana University School of Medicine, strong insurance networks from major employers, and a growing healthcare infrastructure. AndHealth leverages these local strengths while providing the personalized, accessible care that makes the difference in daily quality of life – including a pharmacist on your care team who will work to find the lowest possible biologics medication and treatment costs, and a practice which accepts Medicaid, Medicare and most insurance plans.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Living with rheumatoid arthritis in Indianapolis means managing morning stiffness before your commute on I-465, maintaining joint health during long days at Eli Lilly or Salesforce Tower, and staying active in a city that offers everything from cultural events at the arts district to Pacers games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Your AndHealth team creates rheumatology treatment plans that work with your Circle City lifestyle.
Ankylosing spondylitis
For ankylosing spondylitis, Indianapolis’s growing young professional population—boosted by companies relocating downtown and Butler’s student body—means many people experience symptoms during crucial career-building years. Whether you’re starting your career in tech, finance, or healthcare, building a family in suburbs like Carmel or Fishers, or pursuing education, spine symptoms shouldn’t limit your goals.
Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis presents unique challenges in a city with four distinct seasons and varying air quality. Managing both joint and skin symptoms through Indianapolis’s humid summers, cold winters, and air pollution episodes requires comprehensive care addressing both aspects of the condition simultaneously.
Your rheumatology team
Gregory M. Bell, MD
Rheumatologist
Office locations
1210B Medical Arts Blvd #300
Anderson, IN 46011
1107 N State St
Greenfield, IN 46140
6020 Crawfordsville Rd Suite 102
Indianapolis, IN 46224
17840 Cumberland Rd
Noblesville, IN 46060
Not near these locations?
Virtual video visits available for Indiana & Ohio residents
How a virtual rheumatology visit works
We want you to feel as comfortable in an online appointment as you would in person. Here’s how a virtual appointment works.
You and your doctor will join a video call at a place most convenient to you - at home, work, your car, etc.
Choose somewhere quiet where you can speak freely, and where you have a good internet connection.
Your nearest Community Health Center can also provide a private room with a computer where you can join your appointment (reserved in advance).
Your rheumatologist will ask you where you are experiencing symptoms.
They will ask you to show the affected joints on camera to confirm swelling, redness, or other factors.
Your rheumatologist may ask you to press on your joints and report how it feels, as part of the evaluation.
When swelling or other symptoms are hard to visualize, your rheumatologist will order imaging (x-ray or MRI) to get more information, as they would during an in-person exam.
When you are in a flare, or having a hard day, an online appointment can be much easier to join.
An online appointment saves you time from driving to an office, sitting in a waiting room, and then seeing your provider.
An online appointment should feel as unrushed and thorough as in person.
We want you to always feel that you can ask all of your questions, report on how you've been feeling, and help us create or modify the best treatment plan for you.
Personalized treatments & care unique to Indianapolis
Indianapolis offers exceptional healthcare infrastructure that AndHealth maximizes for comprehensive autoimmune rheumatology care. IU Health’s extensive arthritis and rheumatology programs collaborate directly with Indiana University School of Medicine research, bringing cutting-edge treatments and clinical trial opportunities to your doorstep.
The city’s corporate landscape creates robust insurance benefits that support comprehensive rheumatology care. Major employers like Eli Lilly, Anthem, Salesforce, and state government typically offer excellent health benefits. Your AndHealth care team maximizes these advantages while eliminating common barriers like referral requirements and specialist wait times, providing seamless care coordination.
We understand Indianapolis’s diverse work culture and scheduling demands. Whether you’re working downtown with regular business hours, managing shift schedules at pharmaceutical plants, navigating academic calendars at Butler or IUPUI, or balancing irregular tech startup hours, your medication timing and appointment scheduling adapt to your actual lifestyle. Our telehealth capabilities are particularly valuable for busy professionals who can connect with their care team during lunch breaks rather than taking time off work.
Rheumatology support for all of Indianapolis’ residents
Indianapolis’s rapid growth and development means many residents are establishing themselves professionally and personally during peak years for autoimmune condition onset. We provide specialized support for young professionals managing new diagnoses, families navigating insurance changes during job transitions, and students dealing with health challenges while pursuing education.
The city’s renowned food scene becomes part of your treatment strategy. From farm-to-table restaurants to international cuisine on Mass Ave, Indianapolis provides excellent anti-inflammatory dining options. Your health coach helps you navigate everything from Indiana State Fair foods to fine dining at places like St. Elmo Steak House, ensuring your social life supports rather than undermines your health goals.
Indianapolis’s extensive greenway system, cultural canal, and proximity to state parks support your treatment plan. The Monon Trail, Cultural Trail, and nearby Eagle Creek Park provide year-round low-impact exercise opportunities that help manage autoimmune symptoms while connecting you with community activities that make Indianapolis special.
Common RA, PsA, AS symptoms better & worse in Indianapolis
Rheumatology symptoms made better in Indianapolis
Indianapolis offers some climate advantages. The city’s urban heat island effect moderates some extreme temperature swings, and indoor entertainment options during harsh weather help maintain social connections important for mental health during difficult symptom periods.
Rheumatology symptoms affected by factors unique to Indianapolis
AccuWeather monitors arthritis weather conditions for Indianapolis, helping residents track how weather patterns affect autoimmune rheumatology symptoms throughout the year. The city’s continental climate creates distinct seasonal challenges that require strategic symptom management.
Indianapolis summers bring significant humidity challenges for autoimmune conditions. The city’s notorious humidity, often exceeding 75% during morning hours from June through August, combined with temperatures reaching the upper 80s and low 90s, creates conditions that worsen inflammatory symptoms. Research shows higher humidity correlates with increased pain and stiffness, particularly problematic during Indianapolis’s muggy summer months.
Air quality adds complexity to summer symptom management. The Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson area has recorded some of the nation’s highest Air Quality Index median levels, with PM2.5 concentrations sometimes reaching 6.3 times World Health Organization guidelines. Poor air quality days coinciding with high humidity create particularly challenging conditions for autoimmune symptoms.
Winter in Indianapolis presents extended cold challenges for all autoimmune conditions. Average January temperatures around 27°F, combined with frequent ice storms and bitter wind chills, create the significant temperature drops linked to increased joint pain and stiffness. Morning commutes become particularly difficult when ankylosing spondylitis spine stiffness combines with cold-weather joint inflammation.
The city’s position in the Midwest “storm alley” creates frequent barometric pressure changes associated with increased arthritis pain. Indianapolis averages numerous severe weather events annually, each potentially preceded by pressure changes that trigger symptom flares. The city’s flat terrain provides little natural weather protection, making residents more susceptible to pressure-related symptom changes.
Spring allergies add seasonal complexity, with tree pollen from Indianapolis’s extensive urban forest potentially triggering additional inflammatory responses in people with autoimmune rheumatology conditions.
How common is a RA, AS or PsA diagnosis for people in Indianapolis?
Indianapolis’s metropolitan area, with approximately 2.1 million residents, represents a significant population living with rheumatology conditions. Based on national RA prevalence data showing 29-50 per 1,000 population depending on gender and age, the Indianapolis metro area likely has 60,000-105,000 residents living with rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis rates
Marion County’s demographics significantly influence these rates. Higher RA prevalence among African American populations is particularly relevant for Indianapolis, which has substantial African American communities. Additionally, economic disparities within the city correlate with higher autoimmune condition rates, as lower educational levels and income ratios are associated with increased rheumatoid arthritis prevalence.
Ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis rates
Indianapolis’s large young adult population, including Butler University students, IUPUI attendees, and young professionals attracted to the city’s growing tech and healthcare sectors, means ankylosing spondylitis has particular relevance. With AS prevalence around 0.10% and typically affecting younger adults, approximately 2,100 Indianapolis metro residents likely live with this condition during crucial career and family-building years.
Psoriatic arthritis diagnosis rates
For psoriatic arthritis, prevalence rates of 0.24% suggest approximately 5,000 Indianapolis metro residents have this condition. Given that up to 30% of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, the city’s extensive dermatology networks play crucial roles in early identification and appropriate referral to rheumatology care. AndHealth’s collaborative care offers the opportunity for people with PsA to have both a dermatologist and a rheumatologist on their care team, who will collaborate together to ensure all symptoms and whole person health are factored into a personalized care plan.
Indianapolis’s status as Indiana’s healthcare hub means residents generally have better access to early rheumatology diagnosis and treatment than in rural areas, potentially leading to improved long-term outcomes. However, the city’s rapid growth sometimes strains healthcare resources, making efficient, coordinated care like AndHealth’s approach particularly valuable for timely access to specialized treatment.
Unique geographic factors for RA, AS, PsA in Indianapolis
Indianapolis faces significant air quality challenges that particularly affect rheumatology conditions. Recent monitoring shows the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson area recording some of the country’s highest Air Quality Index median levels, with PM2.5 concentrations reaching dangerous levels during certain periods. Fine particle pollution causes lung irritation and systemic inflammation that can worsen chronic rheumatology symptoms.
Air quality
The city’s position as a major transportation and logistics hub creates specific air quality concerns. Indianapolis serves as the intersection of multiple Interstate highways (I-65, I-69, I-70, I-74) and hosts significant freight movement through its central location. Vehicle emissions particularly affect neighborhoods near major highways and the airport, with traffic pollution putting residents at greater risk of health impacts.
Industrial history contributes to environmental considerations. While Indianapolis has successfully transitioned from heavy manufacturing, legacy pollution from former industrial sites and current pharmaceutical/chemical manufacturing can contribute to air quality challenges that affect people with rheumatology conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and/or ankylosing spondylitis.
The city’s flat topography provides limited natural barriers to air pollution dispersion, meaning that pollutants can spread across the entire metropolitan area rather than being contained to specific industrial zones. This geographic reality makes air quality a citywide concern rather than a localized issue.
Clean air and water
However, Indianapolis offers significant environmental advantages through its extensive park system and greenway network. Eagle Creek Park, one of the nation’s largest municipal parks, provides clean air refuge from urban pollution. The Cultural Trail, Monon Trail, and numerous neighborhood greenways offer opportunities for outdoor exercise in relatively clean environments.
Water quality in Indianapolis is generally excellent due to comprehensive municipal treatment systems, though some older neighborhoods may have aging infrastructure concerns. The city’s water comes primarily from the White River and underground aquifers, with treatment meeting all federal standards.
Urban heat island effects can intensify both air pollution concentration and heat stress during summer months, particularly in downtown areas where concrete and asphalt surfaces raise temperatures 3-5 degrees above surrounding areas, potentially affecting circulation and inflammation in people with autoimmune rheumatology conditions.
Get educated: health fairs or health events in Indianapolis
Indianapolis hosts numerous health-focused events providing opportunities for rheumatology condition, screening, and community building.
Featured annual events
The annual Walk to Cure Arthritis at Conner Prairie brings together hundreds of central Indiana residents affected by rheumatic conditions, featuring educational booths, animal encounters, and community fundraising for arthritis research.
The Indiana Health Fair (July each year) at the Indiana Convention Center offers free health screenings, education, and resources specifically focused on chronic disease management including arthritis. This statewide event provides comprehensive access to healthcare information and screening services.
The Indiana Black & Minority Health Fair addresses health disparities particularly relevant to Indianapolis’s diverse population, providing targeted resources for communities disproportionately affected by autoimmune conditions and higher RA prevalence rates.
IU Health regularly organizes community health events, wellness seminars, and educational sessions throughout Indianapolis that include arthritis and autoimmune condition information. These events often feature local rheumatologists and provide opportunities to learn about cutting-edge treatments and management strategies.
Festival events
Indianapolis’s extensive festival calendar integrates health and wellness components. Events like the Indy Pride Festival, cultural celebrations, and neighborhood festivals increasingly include health pavilions featuring chronic disease education and community resource connections.
Professional healthcare conferences regularly occur at the Indiana Convention Center, providing continuing education for healthcare providers and often including patient advocacy components that benefit the broader autoimmune community through improved care standards and treatment awareness.
Butler University and IUPUI health programs sometimes coordinate community health fairs and educational events that include autoimmune condition awareness, particularly valuable for reaching young adults during peak years for condition onset.
Get support: RA, AS, PsA chronic condition community groups & patient groups in Indianapolis
AndHealth’s established presence in Indianapolis through multiple clinic locations and Dr. Gregory Bell’s practice creates opportunities for patient connections and peer support, with both virtual and in-person care options accommodating diverse scheduling needs and preferences.
In-person community groups
The Arthritis Foundation maintains active Indianapolis operations, providing advocacy, resources, and community connections for people with arthritis and related conditions throughout central Indiana. Their programs focus on breaking down care barriers, funding research, and supporting families affected by autoimmune conditions.
IU Health’s extensive Indianapolis network facilitates support groups and educational programs across multiple locations throughout the metropolitan area, making geographic access easier for residents in various neighborhoods and suburbs. Their collaboration with Indiana University School of Medicine brings research opportunities and cutting-edge treatment awareness to support group activities.
Butler University and IUPUI health programs sometimes coordinate support resources for students dealing with chronic health conditions, including autoimmune disorders that often emerge during college years.
Online community groups
Indianapolis-specific online communities include Facebook groups like “Indy Arthritis Support,” “Circle City Chronic Warriors,” and “Indianapolis RA/PsA Community” that provide local weather-related symptom discussions, provider recommendations, healthcare navigation advice, and Indianapolis-specific resource sharing.
The city’s extensive network of YMCAs, community centers, and hospital wellness programs host arthritis-friendly exercise programs, chronic disease self-management workshops, and support groups that create informal peer networks alongside fitness benefits. Programs are available throughout Indianapolis neighborhoods and suburbs, ensuring geographic accessibility.
FAQs about Indianapolis rheumatology
insurance & payment
Yes! AndHealth proudly accepts Indiana Medicaid and provides comprehensive rheumatology care with no copays for any member of your care team—including your rheumatologist, clinical pharmacist, coordinating provider, health coach, and patient navigator. This means you get complete autoimmune care without financial barriers.
Indiana Medicaid covers all essential autoimmune care including specialist visits, lab work, imaging (X-rays, MRIs), prescription medications including biologics, and additional services like nutrition programs and sleep tracking—all provided at no cost to you through AndHealth.
No! With AndHealth and Indiana Medicaid, you have zero copays for appointments with your entire care team. This includes your rheumatologist, clinical pharmacist, health coach, and patient navigator, ensuring cost never prevents you from getting the care you need.
AndHealth’s Care Navigators work with uninsured patients to find rheumatology care on a sliding fee scale and help identify assistance programs for housing, transportation, groceries, and utilities. We believe everyone deserves access to world-class healthcare regardless of insurance status.
Your AndHealth clinical pharmacist helps ensure you have the lowest medication costs through patient assistance programs, copay support, and insurance optimization. We coordinate with drug manufacturers and assistance programs to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses for biologics and other specialized medications.
AndHealth is in-network and accepts Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE and most commercial health plans in Ohio and Indiana.
Appointment access & scheduling
AndHealth typically offers appointments within 1-2 weeks with no referral needed. We understand that autoimmune rheumatology conditions can’t wait for long specialist queues, so we prioritize timely access to care in Indianapolis.
No referral required! You can contact AndHealth directly to schedule your appointment. This eliminates delays and barriers that often prevent people from getting timely rheumatology care.
While same-day appointments depend on availability, AndHealth provides anytime messaging with your care team between visits. During flares, you can text your provider team immediately for guidance, medication adjustments, or urgent care coordination if needed.
For severe flares, contact your AndHealth care team through anytime messaging first. If you need immediate medical attention, your nearest emergency department is available 24/7. Always inform them you’re an AndHealth patient so they can coordinate with your care team.
Telehealth & virtual care
Yes! AndHealth provides both in-person and virtual appointments, perfect for Indianapolis residents who may face transportation challenges or prefer the convenience of telehealth. Virtual visits include comprehensive assessments using on-camera reviews and coordination with local lab work and imaging.
Absolutely. Your AndHealth rheumatologist can prescribe and adjust medications during virtual visits. Your clinical pharmacist coordinates prescription delivery and provides injection training via telehealth when needed, ensuring treatment continuity regardless of weather or transportation issues.
Virtual visits are 45-minute comprehensive appointments where your rheumatologist reviews symptoms, assesses joint function through guided movements, discusses lab results, and adjusts treatment plans. A clinical pharmacist may join to discuss medications, and the entire care team coordinates your ongoing management.
Provider credentials & expertise
Yes, all AndHealth rheumatologists are board-certified specialists with extensive training in autoimmune rheumatology conditions. They bring decades of experience to you as a patient in Indianapolis, ensuring you receive high quality care throughout your relationship with any of your AndHealth providers.
AndHealth provides a complete 5-person care team (rheumatologist, clinical pharmacist, coordinating provider, health coach, and patient navigator) working together for your chronic condition rheumatology care. This comprehensive approach, combined with telehealth options and no referral requirements, brings specialized care directly to Indianapolis.
Sources
1. Welcome To Rheumatology Associates – Indianapolis
2. Arthritis & Rheumatology – IU Health
3. Indiana Air Quality Index – IQAir
4. Indianapolis Arthritis Weather Forecast – AccuWeather
5. Walk to Cure Arthritis – Indianapolis
6. Indiana Health Fair – State of Indiana
Rheumatology care near you
Northern Indiana
Elkhart
Fort Wayne
Gary
Hammond
Portage
South Bend
Southern Indiana
Bloomington
Columbus
Evansville
Jefferson
New Albany