Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

• 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

You may need an orthopedic surgeon if you're experiencing persistent joint, bone, or muscle pain, limited mobility, or injury that doesn’t respond to conservative treatments like physical therapy or medication. 

In many cases, yes. While some insurance plans require a referral from a primary care provider, many do not. It’s best to: 

1. Check your insurance policy for referral requirements 
2. Contact the orthopedic office directly to confirm 

Certain foods can trigger inflammation and worsen joint pain, especially in conditions like arthritis. Common culprits include: 

• Processed sugars (sweets, soda) 
• Refined carbs (white bread, pasta) 
• Fried or greasy foods 
• Red and processed meats 
• Excess alcohol 
• Dairy (in some people) 
• Foods high in omega-6 fatty acids (corn oil, vegetable oils)  

Not always. Meniscus tear pain can vary depending on the severity and activity level. 

• You may feel sharp pain during twisting or squatting motions. 
• Pain may come and go, especially with walking or bending the knee. 
• Swelling and stiffness can worsen after activity. 
• In chronic cases, the pain may become more constant over time.  

Treatment for a knee contusion (bruised knee) usually involves conservative care: 

1. Rest – Avoid activities that aggravate the pain. 
2. Ice – Apply for 15–20 minutes every few hours for the first 48 hours. 
3. Compression – Use a wrap or brace to reduce swelling. 
4. Elevation – Raise your leg to help with swelling. 
5. Pain Relief – Over-the-counter NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) may help reduce inflammation and pain.  

If pain or swelling persists beyond a few days, see a healthcare provider to rule out deeper tissue or bone injury.  

You may need joint replacement if you experience: 

• Chronic joint pain that interferes with daily life 
• Limited range of motion or stiffness 
• Pain that worsens with activity or at night 
• Little or no relief from medications or physical therapy 
• Visible joint damage on X-rays or MRI 

Non-surgical treatment options we offer include: 

• Physical therapy and rehabilitation 
• Anti-inflammatory medications or pain relievers 
• Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections 
• Bracing or orthotic support 
• Lifestyle modifications (weight loss, low-impact exercise) 

Here’s the difference between a total and partial knee replacement: 

• Total Knee Replacement: The entire knee joint is resurfaced. 
• Partial Knee Replacement: Only the damaged part of the knee is replaced, preserving healthy tissue and ligaments. 

Many patients qualify for minimally invasive surgery, which uses smaller incisions and results in less pain, quicker recovery, and reduced hospital stays. Eligibility depends on your condition and overall health.  

Recovery time varies, but typically: 

• Most patients walk within 24 hours 
• Return to basic daily activities in 3–6 weeks 
• Full recovery and return to high-level activity in 3–6 months 
• Physical therapy helps to optimize outcomes.