Compare 126 gastroenterologists in Washington, DC. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
126
Gastroenterologists
100%
Accepting patients
81%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
DC's healthcare system reflects the city itself: politically connected, resource-rich, and deeply unequal. Three medical schools and a roster of nationally ranked hospitals coexist with some of the widest health disparity gaps in the country between Wards. The NIH Clinical Center in nearby Bethesda and Walter Reed add a federal layer that no other US city can match. If you know how to navigate the system, the depth of specialty care here is remarkable.
Washington has 126 gastroenterologists. The most common credential is MD (81%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
GW University Hospital is in Foggy Bottom near the Metro. MedStar Georgetown is in Georgetown (limited transit access, plan for parking or rideshare). MedStar Washington Hospital Center, the city's largest hospital, is in the northeast along Irving Street. Children's National is nearby on Michigan Avenue. The Metro Red Line connects to the Bethesda medical corridor (NIH, Walter Reed, Suburban Hospital). Most specialist offices cluster in Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, and along Connecticut Avenue NW.
Providers practice throughout Washington. Georgetown is medStar Georgetown University Hospital anchors healthcare in this historic neighborhood. Specialty practices line M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Dupont Circle is a central neighborhood with a high density of private practices, particularly in behavioral health and primary care. Whitman-Walker Health provides LGBTQ+ affirming care. Capitol Hill is near MedStar Washington Hospital Center and several congressional health offices. Providence Health serves the eastern neighborhoods. Adams Morgan is a diverse neighborhood with bilingual healthcare options and community health centers. Short commute to Dupont Circle medical offices.
Nearby hospitals include MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, George Washington University Hospital, and MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Local training programs run through Georgetown University School of Medicine and George Washington University School of Medicine. Washington, DC has one of the highest concentrations of physicians per capita in the United States, driven by its medical schools, research institutions, and federal agencies like the NIH and FDA.
The first visit includes a thorough review of your symptoms, diet, bowel habits, and medical history. The GI doctor may order blood work, stool tests, or imaging. If a colonoscopy or endoscopy is needed, they will schedule it separately and explain the preparation. Procedures are done under sedation and typically take 20 to 45 minutes. You will need someone to drive you home afterward.
DC's healthcare system crosses three jurisdictions (DC, Maryland, Virginia), and your insurance network may not cover providers across state lines. If your doctor is in Bethesda or Arlington, verify your plan covers out-of-District providers. MedStar, GW, and Georgetown each use separate patient portals.
See a gastroenterologist for persistent heartburn or acid reflux, difficulty swallowing, chronic abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, blood in your stool, chronic diarrhea or constipation, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis), abnormal liver tests, hepatitis, celiac disease, or when it is time for a screening colonoscopy. Your PCP may refer you after initial evaluation.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · Screening colonoscopy: $0 (preventive) · Diagnostic colonoscopy: $1,500-4,000 · Upper endoscopy: $1,000-3,000
DC's warm, humid summers and cherry blossom season create a multi-phase allergy season from March through October. Tree pollen peaks in April, grass in June, and ragweed in September. Air quality advisories during summer heat waves can affect patients with asthma and COPD.
Frequent heartburn that does not respond to over-the-counter antacids may be gastroesophageal reflux disease. A gastroenterologist evaluates the severity and recommends treatment to prevent long-term esophageal damage.
Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis require ongoing management by a gastroenterologist who monitors disease activity, adjusts medications, and performs colonoscopies to assess the health of your intestinal lining.
IBS causes bloating, cramping, and unpredictable bowel habits that interfere with daily life. A gastroenterologist confirms the diagnosis and helps you find dietary and medical strategies that bring relief.
Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening, now recommended starting at age 45. A gastroenterologist performs the procedure and removes precancerous polyps before they become dangerous.
Elevated liver enzymes, fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis all fall within a gastroenterologist scope. Early detection and management prevent progression to liver failure.
Washington, DC has 126 licensed gastroenterologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of gastroenterologists in Washington, DC are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
DC Health Link is the District's ACA marketplace, with plans from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare. DC Medicaid covers a broader population than most states, with eligibility up to 210 percent of the federal poverty level for adults. If you live in DC but work in Maryland or Virginia (or vice versa), your employer plan may have different network rules than a DC-based marketplace plan.
An office visit copay is $30 to $75. A screening colonoscopy is $0 (preventive). A diagnostic colonoscopy costs $1,500 to $4,000. An upper endoscopy runs $1,000 to $3,000. Actual costs in Washington, DC depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Screening colonoscopies must be billed as preventive to be covered at 100%. If polyps are found and removed, the procedure should remain coded as screening. Verify that the endoscopy center and anesthesiologist are both in-network.
DC healthcare is organized around MedStar Health (Georgetown and Washington Hospital Center), GW Health, and Children's National. Sibley Memorial Hospital in northwest DC is a Johns Hopkins affiliate. The NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda accepts patients through research protocols, not standard insurance. Because the metro area spans DC, Maryland, and Virginia, always check whether your provider is in-network for your specific plan and jurisdiction.
67% of gastroenterologists in Washington, DC accept Medicare. Medicare covers screening colonoscopies every ten years for average-risk patients (no cost-sharing). Diagnostic colonoscopies and other GI procedures are covered with standard Part B cost-sharing. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Screening colonoscopies are recommended every ten years for average-risk adults starting at age 45. Patients with IBD, celiac disease, or chronic liver conditions may see their GI doctor every three to six months. With 126 gastroenterologists in Washington, DC, you can search on FindClarity to find a provider who fits your schedule.
Yes. Insurance networks often differ across the three jurisdictions. A DC-based plan may not cover a provider in Bethesda or Arlington at in-network rates, even if they are only a few miles away. MedStar and Kaiser operate across all three jurisdictions, which simplifies things. Always verify your provider's network status for your specific plan.
The NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda accepts patients who qualify for specific research studies, not through standard insurance referrals. If you have a condition that is being actively studied at NIH, your doctor can refer you for a screening. ClinicalTrials.gov lists active NIH studies. There is no cost to patients accepted into NIH studies.
GW Hospital (Foggy Bottom), MedStar Georgetown (Georgetown), and MedStar Washington Hospital Center (northeast DC) are the three main adult emergency departments in the District. Children's National handles pediatric emergencies. MedStar Washington Hospital Center is the region's only Level I adult trauma center.
Top accepted carriers in Washington, DC include unitedhealthcare, medicare, anthem, centene, and qhp-44228.
Screening colonoscopies are covered at 100% as preventive care under the ACA with no copay (for average-risk patients starting at age 45). If polyps are found and removed during a screening, the procedure should still be billed as preventive. Diagnostic colonoscopies (ordered for symptoms) are subject to your deductible and copay. Verify the endoscopy center is in-network separately from the doctor.