Pulmonologists in Austin, TX
Compare 41 pulmonologists in Austin, TX. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
41
Pulmonologists
100%
Accepting patients
80%
Most common: MD
Top-Rated Pulmonologists in Austin, TX
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Specialty: pulmonologistState: TXCity: Austin
About pulmonologists in Austin, TX
Austin's healthcare infrastructure is racing to catch up with a population that has more than doubled since 2000. Dell Medical School, which opened in 2016, is still young but has already shifted the city from a medical education desert into a growing academic hub. The challenge is that provider supply hasn't kept pace with demand, and new-patient wait times for specialists can be long.
Austin has 41 pulmonologists. The most common credential is MD (80%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Dell Seton Medical Center at UT anchors downtown as the region's Level I trauma center. St. David's has multiple campuses across the metro. Ascension Seton has historically been the largest system but is transitioning. The I-35 corridor is the main healthcare spine, with hospitals clustered along it from Round Rock through downtown to South Austin. Cedar Park and Round Rock have their own hospital campuses for the northern suburbs.
Providers practice throughout Austin. South Congress (SoCo) is a popular south Austin corridor with growing healthcare options and proximity to St. David's South Austin Medical Center. East Austin is a rapidly growing area with community health centers like CommUnityCare serving a diverse population. Downtown Austin is dell Seton Medical Center at UT anchors downtown healthcare as a Level I trauma center. Hyde Park is a central neighborhood near UT campus with family practices and Seton healthcare offices.
Nearby hospitals include Dell Seton Medical Center at UT, Ascension Seton Medical Center, and St. David's Medical Center. Local training programs run through University of Texas at Austin and Dell Medical School (UT Austin). Dell Medical School, opened in 2016, is the first new medical school at a Tier 1 research university in nearly 50 years.
What to expect at your first pulmonologist visit in Austin, TX
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.
Tips for Austin, TX patients
Austin's rapid growth means primary care panels fill quickly. If you're moving to Austin, try to establish a PCP before you arrive or within your first few weeks. Dell Medical Associates, Baylor Scott & White, and CommUnityCare are all actively expanding primary care capacity.
When to see a pulmonologist
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.
Typical costs
Office visit copay: $30-75 · Pulmonary function test: $150-500 · Chest CT: $300-3,000 · Bronchoscopy: $1,500-5,000
Common reasons to see a pulmonologist in Austin, TX
Cedar pollen season (December-February) is notorious in Central Texas and sends many Austin residents to allergists for the first time. "Cedar fever" is a real phenomenon that can feel like a severe cold. Mold allergies flare after rainy periods. Summer heat routinely exceeds 100 degrees.
Asthma
Pulmonologists manage moderate to severe asthma, perform pulmonary function testing, and develop treatment plans that reduce flares and keep your airways open.
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
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.
Sleep apnea
Loud snoring, gasping during sleep, and daytime exhaustion may indicate obstructive sleep apnea. Pulmonologists order sleep studies and manage CPAP therapy or other treatments.
Chronic cough
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.
Interstitial lung disease
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.
Frequently asked questions about pulmonologists in Austin, TX
Austin, TX has 41 licensed pulmonologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of pulmonologists in Austin, TX are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Austin employer plans skew toward Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna, driven by the tech and state government sectors. Sendero Health Plans is a Travis County-based nonprofit insurer on the marketplace. Central Health is the local healthcare district that funds programs for uninsured residents through CommUnityCare clinics.
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 Austin, TX 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.
Austin's hospital systems include Dell Seton Medical Center at UT (academic, Level I trauma), St. David's HealthCare/HCA (four Austin hospitals, the largest by bed count), Ascension Seton (historically dominant, now transitioning), and Baylor Scott & White (growing presence in Round Rock and Cedar Park). Dell Medical School is building out its clinical network, which is adding new provider options each year.
MD stands for Doctor of Medicine and DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Austin, TX, 80% hold the MD credential and 7% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
83% of pulmonologists in Austin, TX 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.
Central Health is Travis County's healthcare district, funded by property taxes. It doesn't run hospitals directly but funds CommUnityCare community health centers and the Medical Access Program (MAP) for uninsured residents. MAP provides access to primary care, specialty care, prescriptions, and some hospital services for income-eligible Travis County residents.
Yes, significantly. Before 2016, Austin was the largest US city without a medical school. Dell Medical School has attracted new specialists, created residency programs, and built out clinical facilities through its partnership with Ascension Seton. The Dell Seton Medical Center at UT opened in 2017 as a teaching hospital and Level I trauma center.
Nearby Cities
Other specialties in Austin
Insurance & Pulmonologist coverage
Top accepted carriers in Austin, TX include medicare, unitedhealthcare, qhp-33602, qhp-37758, and qhp-71837.
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.
