Pulmonology

If you experience chronic cough, shortness of breath, or abnormal imaging, our pulmonologists perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine the underlying cause. We assess possible links to asthma, infections, heart disease, or environmental factors. Our goal is to relieve symptoms, improve breathing comfort, and promote long-term lung health through personalized, evidence-based care. 

We treat a full range of chronic and environmental lung conditions, including asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and cystic fibrosis, as well as work-related diseases such as silicosis and asbestosis. Our care plans may include inhalers, oxygen therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation to improve airflow, reduce inflammation, and prevent flare-ups. For patients exposed to dust, chemicals, or pollutants, we focus on early detection, prevention, and long-term lung protection. 

We diagnose and treat both acute and chronic lung infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB), and fungal diseases like histoplasmosis or aspergillosis. Using imaging, cultures, and pulmonary testing, we identify the cause and tailor treatment to each patient’s needs. For patients with weakened immunity or existing lung disease, we provide preventive care and close monitoring to reduce complications and support recovery. 

Our team provides comprehensive evaluation and management for lung cancer and suspicious nodules or masses. Using low-dose CT scans, bronchoscopy, and biopsy when needed, we detect abnormalities early and guide patients through every step of diagnosis and treatment. We work closely with oncology and thoracic surgery specialists to create individualized care plans focused on early detection, symptom management, and long-term recovery. 

We specialize in diagnosing and treating pulmonary hypertension (PH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)—conditions that affect blood flow between the heart and lungs. Through advanced testing, such as echocardiograms and right-heart catheterization, we confirm diagnosis and guide treatment. Our goal is to help patients reduce breathlessness and fatigue, improve daily activity levels, and protect heart-lung function over time. 

We evaluate and treat sleep apnea and other breathing disorders that disrupt rest and oxygen levels. Through sleep studies (polysomnography) and home testing, we identify causes like obstructive or central sleep apnea and create personalized treatment plans that may include CPAP therapy, oral appliances, or lifestyle adjustments. Restoring healthy sleep helps improve focus, energy, and cardiovascular health. 

We use advanced diagnostic testing to accurately assess lung function and identify underlying respiratory conditions. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) measure how well your lungs move air and exchange oxygen, while bronchoscopy allows us to directly examine your airways and collect tissue samples for diagnosis.

Low-dose CT scans and oxygen saturation tests help detect early signs of lung disease, monitor treatment progress, and evaluate oxygen levels in your blood. For patients with sleep-related breathing issues, we also perform sleep studies (polysomnography) to diagnose and manage conditions such as sleep apnea. 

We offer a full range of medical therapies to help patients breathe easier and prevent flare-ups. Inhalers and nebulizers deliver medication directly to the lungs for conditions like asthma and COPD. For severe asthma, biologic therapies target specific inflammation pathways for better long-term control.

Our team also provides oxygen therapy for patients with advanced lung disease and pulmonary rehabilitation programs that combine exercise, breathing techniques, and education to restore strength and endurance. 

Our pulmonologists perform minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat complex lung conditions. Lung biopsies are performed through bronchoscopy or CT-guided techniques to evaluate abnormal tissue or detect cancer. Thoracentesis removes excess fluid from the lungs to relieve shortness of breath and improve comfort. 

For advanced cases, we offer specialized procedures like balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) for pulmonary hypertension and endobronchial valve placement to improve lung function in patients with severe COPD or emphysema. 

We provide low-dose CT scans for early detection of lung cancer in high-risk individuals—particularly long-term smokers or those with a history of exposure to toxins. Early screening allows us to identify small nodules before symptoms appear, improving treatment outcomes and survival rates. Our team reviews results promptly and coordinates follow-up care with oncology specialists when needed. 

• 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

Lung diseases can develop due to genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The most common risk factors include: 

• Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure 
• Air pollution and exposure to harmful chemicals (e.g., asbestos, silica, radon) 
• Chronic respiratory infections 
• Family history of lung disease 
• Occupational hazards (e.g., exposure to dust, fumes, and industrial chemicals) 

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that makes breathing difficult. It includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis and is primarily caused by smoking, long-term exposure to pollutants, and genetic factors. Symptoms include: 

• Shortness of breath 
• Chronic cough with mucus 
• Wheezing and chest tightness 
• Fatigue and frequent lung infections 

Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Common causes include: 

• Bacterial pneumonia (e.g., Streptococcus pneumoniae) 
• Viral pneumonia (e.g., influenza, COVID-19) 
• Fungal pneumonia (e.g., histoplasmosis, aspergillosis) 
  Risk factors include weakened immune systems, chronic lung diseases, and hospitalization. 

Lung cancer symptoms often appear in later stages and may include: 

• Chronic cough that doesn’t go away 
• Coughing up blood (hemoptysis) 
• Shortness of breath and wheezing 
• Unexplained weight loss and fatigue 
• Chest pain that worsens with deep breathing 

• Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) measures how well your lungs work by evaluating lung volume, airflow, and oxygen exchange. It helps diagnose asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and other lung diseases. Tests include: 
• Spirometry – Measures airflow obstruction. 
• Lung volume tests – Assess how much air your lungs can hold. 
• Diffusion capacity tests – Determine how well your lungs transfer oxygen into the blood. 

A bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows a pulmonologist to examine the airways and lungs using a flexible tube with a camera. It is used to: 

• Diagnose lung infections, tumors, and chronic cough 
• Collect tissue samples (biopsy) for lung cancer evaluation 
• Remove mucus blockages or foreign objects from the airway 

Pulmonologists perform both diagnostic and interventional procedures to evaluate and treat lung diseases, including: 

• Bronchoscopy – Airway examination and biopsy. 
• Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) – Lung capacity and airflow analysis. 
• Thoracentesis – Removes excess fluid from the lungs. 
• Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) – Diagnoses lung cancer and lymph node abnormalities. 
• Lung biopsy – Identifies lung disease causes and malignancies. 

To maintain healthy lungs: 

• Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke 
• Exercise regularly to strengthen lung function 
• Avoid exposure to air pollutants and wear masks in hazardous environments 
• Get vaccinated for pneumonia, flu, and COVID-19 
• Maintain a healthy diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids 

Seek medical attention if your shortness of breath is: 

• Sudden or severe 
• Accompanied by chest pain or dizziness 
• Worsening over time 
• Associated with swelling in the legs or persistent cough 

These symptoms may indicate lung disease, heart problems, or other serious conditions.