Hepatology (Liver Care)

• Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) – Fat accumulation in the liver, often linked to obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol. 
• Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) – A more severe form of NAFLD that causes inflammation and liver damage, potentially leading to cirrhosis. 
• Alcoholic Liver Disease – Liver damage caused by excessive alcohol consumption, leading to fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. 

• Cirrhosis – Advanced liver scarring from chronic liver disease, increasing the risk of liver failure and cancer. 
• Portal Hypertension – Increased blood pressure in the liver's portal vein, leading to complications such as esophageal varices and ascites. 
• Hepatic Encephalopathy – A decline in brain function due to the liver's inability to remove toxins from the blood, causing confusion, personality changes, and coma in severe cases. 

• Hepatitis B – A viral infection that can cause chronic liver inflammation, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. 
• Hepatitis C – A bloodborne viral infection that damages the liver over time, leading to cirrhosis and liver failure if untreated. 
• Autoimmune Hepatitis – A condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the liver, causing chronic inflammation and liver damage. 
• Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) – A chronic autoimmune disease that damages the small bile ducts in the liver, leading to cirrhosis. 
• Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) – A rare autoimmune disorder causing inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts, potentially leading to liver failure. 

• Liver Cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma - HCC) – A primary liver cancer that often develops in patients with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis infections. 
• Esophageal Varices – Swollen veins in the esophagus caused by portal hypertension, which can rupture and lead to life-threatening bleeding. 
• Rare Liver Diseases – Includes conditions such as Wilson’s disease, hemochromatosis (iron overload), and Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. 

1. Liver Transplantation – A life-saving procedure for patients with end-stage liver disease. 
2. Liver Transplantation Assessment – Comprehensive evaluation for transplant eligibility, including blood tests, imaging, and liver function assessment. 

1. Free FibroScans – A non-invasive imaging test to assess liver stiffness (fibrosis) and fat accumulation, often used for NAFLD and cirrhosis monitoring. 
2. Liver Function Tests (LFTs) – Blood tests that measure liver enzyme levels to detect liver inflammation, damage, or dysfunction. 
3. Viral Hepatitis Testing – Comprehensive blood tests for detecting Hepatitis B & C infections. 
4. Liver Biopsy – A procedure to analyze liver tissue and confirm disease severity or cancer diagnosis. 

• Hepatitis C Treatment – Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) that cure Hepatitis C in over 95% of cases. 
• Hepatitis B Management – Antiviral medications to control chronic infection and prevent liver damage. 
• Portal Hypertension Management – Medications and procedures, such as band ligation for esophageal varices, to prevent complications. 
• Nutritional & Lifestyle Counseling – Dietary modifications for fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and metabolic liver conditions. 
• Liver Transplant Coordination – Referrals and pre-transplant evaluation for patients needing liver transplantation. 

• Aetna Select
• Open Access Selects
• Elect Choice
• Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
• Aetna Choice POS II
• Managed Choice
• Open Choice PPO
• Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans

CLS Health does not accept:

• Aetna CVS Marketplace Plans

* Some providers may not accept this insurance, please call to confirm

• Superior Ambetter Core (Complete, Clear, Focused, Standard Silver and Gold)
• Superior Ambetter Value (Clear Value Silver, Focused Value Silver, CMS Standard Silver & Gold Value, Everyday Value Gold)
• Superior Ambetter Virtual (Ambetter Virtual Access Silver, CMS Standard Virtual Access Basic Silver, Ambetter Virtual Access Gold)
• Superior Health Plan CHIP*
• Superior Health Plan MAPD (Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug)
• Superior Health Plan Medicare
• Superior Health Plan MMP Medicaid*
• Superior Health Plan MMP Medicare
• Superior Health Plan STAR*
• Superior Health Plan STAR Kids*
• Superior Health Plan STAR+PLUS*

CLS Health participates in most Blue Cross Blue Shield plans including:

• Blue Choice PPO
• Blue Essentials
• Blue Essentials Access
• HealthSelect
• HealthSelect of Texas In Area
• Consumer Directed HealthSelect in Area
• HealthSelect of Texas Out of State
• Consumer Directed Health Select Out of State
• HealthSelect Secondary 65+
• Medicare Advantage HMO
• Medicare Advantage PPO
• Medicare Advantage Value HMO
• POS
• Traditional/Par Plan
• TRS-Active Care
• TRS-Care Standard
• BCBS MyBlue Health (Marketplace)

*Some providers may not accept Community Health Choice, please call to confirm

• MarketplacePremier
• Medicaid*CHIPCHIP PerinateSTAR
• Medicare AdvantageDual-Special Needs Plan (D-SNP)

CLS Health accepts most Cigna plans, including:

• Cigna HMO
• Cigna Local Plus
• Cigna Open Access Plus
• Cigna PPO

• ChoiceCare PPO
• EPO
• HMO
• HMO Premier
• Medicare Advantage Plans
• HumanaChoice - Medicare Advantage PPO plan
• Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plan
• Human Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage HMO & Special Needs Plan
• Military (TRICARE South Region Military Health Plan)
• POS - including Choice POS, National POS Open Access/Plus and Preferred POS Open Access.
• PPO

*Some providers may not accept United Healthcare, please call to confirm

• Commercial, HMO, POS, EPO and PPO Plans (Charter, Choice,Core, Doctors Plan, Freedon, Heritage, Navigate, Nexus ACO, Options PPO, Passport Connect, Select)
• Indemnity
• Medicare Advantage (AARP, Care Improvement Plus, C-SNP, D-SNP, I-SNP, Erickson Advantage, ERS Medicare Advantage, TRS-Care Medicare Advantage, UnitedHealthcare Chronic Complete, UnitedHealthcare Connected (Medicare-Medicaid Plan), UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete, UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage PPO, United Healthcare Medicare Complete)
• Community Plans* (CHIP, CHIP Perinate, Star, Star Kids, Star Plus, MMP)
• Wellmed (Wellmed Dual SNP Focus, Wellmed Medicare Advantage Focus)

*Some providers may not accept Wellpoint, please call to confirm

• Medicaid (All Texas Plans Including the Below)*
• CHIP
• CHIP Perinate
• STAR
• STAR+PLUS
• STAR Kids
• Medicare Advantage
• C-SNP
• D-SNP
• I-SNP
• Medicare Advantage HMO
• Medicare-Medicaid (MMP)
• Medicare-Medicaid Program (MMP)
• STAR+PLUS MMP

*Some providers may not accept insurance, please call to confirm

PPO Networks

• Beechstreet PPO
• Carnival Cruise Lines PPO
• Envolve Benefit Options Vision-PPO, HMO
• First Health
• Curative/First Health
• Galaxy Health Network
• HealthSmart Preferred Care
• Accel
• Healthsmart Payors Organization
• Multiplan PPO
• Tricare (Humana) PPO/Prime

Employer-Specific Plans

• Brazoria County Employees – Aetna TPA Brazoria County Employees

Workers’ Compensation Plans

• Workers’ Comp
• Auto & Workers’ Comp

Medicare and Medicare Advantage

• Medicare Traditional
• Medicare Advantage
• Memorial Hermann Health Solutions Commercial and Medicare
• Molina Medicare Complete Care HMO SNP
• Medicare-Medicaid Program (MMP)
• STAR+PLUS MMP
• Alignment Health Plan
• AllyAlign Health
• American Health Plans
• Florida Complete Care
• Gold Kidney Health Plan
• Imperial Health
• Independent Health
• Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington
• Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado
• Mass Advantage
• Presbyterian Health Plan
• PriorityHealth
• Provider Partners
• SCAN
• UCare
• Vantage Health Plan
• Verda Healthcare
• Zing Health

Medicaid and CHIP Programs

• Molina Healthcare* (Marketplace, Medicaid, CHIP, CHIP Perinate, STAR, STAR Kids, STAR+PLUS)
• Texas Children's Health Plans*
• TMHP (Traditional Medicaid) Traditional Medicaid

Specialty Plans

• VA Community Cares Network CCN

A hepatologist is a liver specialist trained to diagnose and treat liver diseases, including fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, hepatitis, and liver cancer. Gastroenterologists also treat liver conditions but focus on digestive system disorders as well. 

If you have general digestive issues or mild liver abnormalities, a gastroenterologist may be the first step. If you have chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, hepatitis, or need a liver transplant evaluation, a hepatologist is the best choice. 

You should see a hepatologist if you have: 

• Unexplained fatigue, nausea, or jaundice 
• Elevated liver enzymes on blood tests 
• Fatty liver disease, hepatitis, or cirrhosis 
• Persistent right upper abdominal pain or swelling 

1. Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes) 
2. Swelling in the legs and abdomen (fluid retention) 
3. Chronic fatigue and weakness 
4. Dark urine and pale stools 

People with liver disease should avoid: 

• Processed foods and trans fats 
• Sugary drinks and refined carbohydrates 
• Excess alcohol and red meat 
• High-sodium foods 

Liver disease is diagnosed with: 

• Liver function tests (LFTs) – Measure liver enzyme levels 
• FibroScan – Assesses liver fibrosis and fat content 
• Imaging tests (Ultrasound, CT, MRI) – Detects liver abnormalities 
• Liver biopsy – Confirms inflammation and fibrosis severity 

Early-stage fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and mild liver inflammation can often be reversed with diet, exercise, and weight loss. However, advanced liver damage (cirrhosis) is typically irreversible, but treatment can help slow progression and prevent complications. 

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to: 

• Fatty liver (alcoholic steatosis) 
• Alcoholic hepatitis (liver inflammation and scarring) 
• Cirrhosis (severe liver scarring and failure) 
• Increased risk of liver cancer 

Signs of liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma - HCC) include: 

• Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite 
• Upper abdominal pain and swelling 
• Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes) 
• Nausea and vomiting 

To maintain liver health: 

• Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins 
• Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight 
• Avoid excessive alcohol and processed foods 
• Get vaccinated for Hepatitis B 
• Have regular liver function tests if at risk