Compare 142 pulmonologists in Nashville, TN. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
142
Pulmonologists
100%
Accepting patients
81%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Nashville earned the nickname "Healthcare Capital" because more than 500 healthcare companies are headquartered here, including HCA Healthcare, the largest for-profit hospital operator in the country. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is the academic powerhouse, while TriStar (an HCA division) and Saint Thomas (Ascension) run the community hospital networks. The industry doesn't just serve patients here; it defines the local economy.
Nashville has 142 pulmonologists. The most common credential is MD (81%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Nashville's healthcare infrastructure clusters around two corridors. Vanderbilt's campus and Saint Thomas Midtown are in the West End and Midtown area, while TriStar Centennial is just south of Music Row. The suburbs are well-served by TriStar and Saint Thomas outpatient campuses along I-65 (south to Brentwood and Franklin) and I-24 (southeast to Murfreesboro). Nashville has limited public transit, so most patients drive.
Providers practice throughout Nashville. East Nashville is a rapidly growing area across the river from downtown, with new medical practices and community clinics. The Gulch is a trendy downtown neighborhood near TriStar Centennial Medical Center and Vanderbilt outpatient clinics. Germantown is a revitalized historic neighborhood near Meharry Medical College and Nashville General Hospital. 12South is a walkable neighborhood with boutique wellness practices and proximity to Vanderbilt's campus.
Nearby hospitals include Vanderbilt University Medical Center, TriStar Centennial Medical Center, and Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Local training programs run through Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Meharry Medical College. Nashville is known as the Healthcare Capital of the US, with over 500 healthcare companies headquartered in the city.
The first visit includes a review of your symptoms, smoking history, environmental exposures, and current medications. The pulmonologist will listen to your lungs and may order pulmonary function tests (PFTs), which measure how well your lungs move air and exchange oxygen. PFTs involve breathing into a mouthpiece in various patterns. You may also need imaging or a bronchoscopy depending on your symptoms.
Vanderbilt, TriStar, and Saint Thomas are the three main systems. Your insurance network determines which is most affordable. Vanderbilt is the referral center for complex cases; TriStar and Saint Thomas handle the bulk of routine care.
See a pulmonologist for a chronic cough lasting more than eight weeks, shortness of breath that worsens over time, COPD management, severe or hard-to-control asthma, recurrent pneumonia, abnormal chest imaging (nodules, masses, scarring), coughing up blood, occupational lung exposures (asbestos, silica), or sleep-disordered breathing that a sleep study has confirmed.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · Pulmonary function test: $150-500 · Chest CT: $300-3,000 · Bronchoscopy: $1,500-5,000
Middle Tennessee has above-average rates of obesity and diabetes. Primary care doctors here screen for metabolic conditions more aggressively than in some other regions, and many practices have integrated nutritional counseling.
Pulmonologists manage moderate to severe asthma, perform pulmonary function testing, and develop treatment plans that reduce flares and keep your airways open.
COPD is a progressive lung condition most commonly caused by smoking. Pulmonologists prescribe inhalers, pulmonary rehabilitation, and oxygen therapy to slow progression and improve quality of life.
Loud snoring, gasping during sleep, and daytime exhaustion may indicate obstructive sleep apnea. Pulmonologists order sleep studies and manage CPAP therapy or other treatments.
A cough that lasts more than eight weeks has a cause, whether it is acid reflux, postnasal drip, asthma, or something else. Pulmonologists work through the differential to find and treat it.
Pulmonary fibrosis and other interstitial lung diseases cause progressive scarring of the lungs. Pulmonologists manage these complex conditions with medication and monitoring to slow disease progression.
Nashville, TN has 142 licensed pulmonologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of pulmonologists in Nashville, TN are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is the dominant carrier, covering the majority of employer-sponsored plans. UnitedHealthcare and Cigna also have strong networks. TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid) is accepted at Vanderbilt, Meharry, and most TriStar and Saint Thomas locations.
An office visit copay is $30 to $75. Pulmonary function tests cost $150 to $500. A chest CT runs $300 to $3,000. A bronchoscopy costs $1,500 to $5,000. Actual costs in Nashville, TN depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Brand-name inhalers can be expensive ($200 to $500 per month). Generic alternatives exist for many common inhalers. Ask your pulmonologist about cost-effective options and manufacturer savings programs.
Nashville has three main systems: Vanderbilt (academic), TriStar/HCA (for-profit community), and Saint Thomas/Ascension (nonprofit community). Vanderbilt is the referral destination for complex specialty care. For routine primary care and urgent care, TriStar and Saint Thomas both have convenient suburban locations.
MD stands for Doctor of Medicine and DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Nashville, TN, 81% hold the MD credential and 6% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
80% of pulmonologists in Nashville, TN accept Medicare. Medicare covers pulmonology visits, PFTs, and pulmonary rehabilitation (up to 36 sessions). Supplemental oxygen and nebulizers are covered under durable medical equipment. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
More than 500 healthcare companies are headquartered in Nashville, including HCA Healthcare (the largest for-profit hospital chain in the US), Community Health Systems, and Envision Healthcare. The industry employs over 300,000 people in the metro area.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center is consistently ranked as the top hospital in Tennessee and is the academic referral center for the region. For routine care, TriStar and Saint Thomas hospitals are excellent and often more convenient for suburban residents.
Top accepted carriers in Nashville, TN include unitedhealthcare, medicare, qhp-17091, qhp-14002, and cigna.
Pulmonology visits are covered as specialist visits. PFTs and imaging require prior authorization in many plans. Inhalers can be expensive, with brand-name combination inhalers costing $200 to $500 per month without insurance. Ask about generic alternatives and manufacturer copay programs. Pulmonary rehabilitation is covered by Medicare and most insurance plans with a physician order.