Skip to main content

Pulmonologists (Lung Doctors) in Kansas City, MO

85 listed in Kansas City, MO · Listings last verified October 2026 · How we vet listings

We list 85 pulmonologists, or lung doctors, in the Kansas City area, most of them in Kansas City, Lee's Summit and Independence. All are physicians (MD or DO), shown with the practice's phone number, address and Google rating where we could match one. 4 practices say they offer telehealth visits. Use the filters to narrow by city, telehealth, Medicare or Medicaid.

Filter

Cynthia A. Spilker, MD

The Pulmonary & Sleep Clinic at Liberty Hospital

Pulmonology

Practice rating 4.8 (129 Google reviews)

Address
2521 Glenn Hendren Dr Suite 402, Liberty 64068
Telehealth
Practice offers telehealth
Medicare
Not listed
Medicaid
Not listed
Call (816) 781-8445 Website Directions

Last verified Oct 2026 Report a correction

Gary R. Ripple, MD

Pulmonology

Address
4321 Washington St Suite 6000, Medical Plaza Iii,, Kansas City 64111
Telehealth
Not listed
Medicare
Not listed
Medicaid
Not listed
Call (816) 756-2255 Directions

Last verified Oct 2026 Report a correction

Jacqueline J. Smith, MD

The Pulmonary & Sleep Clinic at Liberty Hospital

Pulmonology

Practice rating 4.8 (129 Google reviews)

Address
2521 Glenn Hendren Dr Suite 402, Liberty 64068
Telehealth
Practice offers telehealth
Medicare
Not listed
Medicaid
Not listed
Call (816) 781-8445 Website Directions

Last verified Oct 2026 Report a correction

In the Kansas City area

Our Kansas City listings cover the Missouri side of the metro: Jackson County, Clay County, Platte County and Cass County. Providers on the Kansas side, such as Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa and Kansas City, Kansas, are listed under Overland Park–Johnson County.

Specialist care on the Missouri side is spread across a few health systems. Saint Luke's has the largest group of listings, with its main campus near the Plaza. North Kansas City Hospital (NKC Health) and Liberty Hospital serve the Northland, north of the Missouri River. HCA Midwest Health and University Health also appear, along with many independent groups.

Most listings are in Kansas City itself, in Jackson County. Lee's Summit and Independence have the next largest groups, and North Kansas City and Liberty cover Clay County. If you live in Cass County, check Raymore and Belton before driving into the city.

Lung doctors here practice mostly through hospital systems, with large groups in Kansas City and Lee's Summit. In the Northland, The Pulmonary & Sleep Clinic at Liberty Hospital is one option. Pulmonologists often also practice sleep medicine, so the same office may handle both COPD and sleep apnea.

Nearby: Overland Park–Johnson County, KS · St. Joseph, MO · Columbia–Jefferson City, MO

By town

How to choose a pulmonologist

A pulmonologist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats conditions of the lungs and airways. People see one for asthma that's hard to control, COPD, a cough that won't go away, lung nodules found on a scan, pneumonia that keeps coming back, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis and sleep apnea [2]. Most people see one after a referral from their primary care doctor.

Start with the kind of care you need. Many pulmonologists also work in other areas:

  • General pulmonologists handle most needs: breathing tests, asthma and COPD care, and follow-up on lung nodules.
  • Critical care doctors treat very sick patients in the hospital ICU. Many pulmonologists split their time between the clinic and the ICU.
  • Sleep medicine doctors diagnose and treat sleep apnea and other sleep problems. Many pulmonologists are also trained in sleep medicine.
  • Interventional pulmonologists do advanced scope procedures in the airways, such as biopsies of lung nodules.

If you're not sure, a general pulmonologist is the right first stop. They'll refer you on if you need a subspecialist.

Check credentials. The American Board of Internal Medicine certifies doctors in pulmonary disease, critical care medicine and sleep medicine. You can look up any doctor's certification for free on the ABIM website [1]. Our listings show the credentials doctors report in the federal NPI registry, but we don't verify board certification.

Ask about testing. Most lung care starts with tests. Ask whether the practice does breathing tests (pulmonary function tests) and sleep studies in the office, or sends you elsewhere. For sleep apnea, ask if they offer home sleep tests.

Know if you qualify for lung cancer screening. Experts recommend a yearly low-dose CT scan for adults ages 50 to 80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and still smoke or quit within the past 15 years [3]. Medicare covers this screening once a year for people who qualify [4].

Confirm insurance before you book. Practices change the plans they accept, so call the office or check your insurer's directory. HMO plans usually need a referral first. Medicare Part B covers medically necessary specialist visits; you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after your deductible [5].

Know when not to wait. Breathing trouble that comes on suddenly or makes it hard to talk, or someone who stops breathing, needs emergency care, not an appointment [6]. Call 911.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a referral to see a pulmonologist?

It depends on your insurance. Most HMO plans require a referral from your primary care doctor before they'll cover a specialist visit. PPO plans and traditional Medicare usually don't. Even without a requirement, many lung practices ask for your recent chest X-ray, CT scan or test results, so call ahead and ask what to bring.

What happens at a first pulmonology appointment?

Expect questions about your breathing, cough, sleep, smoking history, work and home exposures, and medications, plus a physical exam. Many first visits include breathing tests that measure how well your lungs move air. The doctor may order a chest CT, blood work or a sleep study. Bring your inhalers and any recent scans.

Do pulmonologists treat sleep apnea?

Many do. Sleep medicine is a separate board certification, and many pulmonologists hold it. A sleep doctor can order a sleep study, at home or in a lab, and manage treatment such as a CPAP machine. Ask the practice whether they treat sleep apnea before you book, since not every lung doctor does.

Who should get screened for lung cancer?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends a yearly low-dose CT scan for adults ages 50 to 80 who have smoked at least 20 pack-years and still smoke or quit within the past 15 years. A pack-year is one pack a day for one year. Medicare covers yearly screening for people ages 50 to 77 who qualify.

How do I know if a pulmonologist is board certified?

Look the doctor up on the American Board of Internal Medicine's free "Verify a Physician" tool. It shows whether a doctor is certified in pulmonary disease, critical care medicine or sleep medicine. Our listings show the credentials doctors report to the NPI registry, but we don't verify certification ourselves.

Sources

  1. American Board of Internal Medicine — Verify a physician's certification
  2. American Thoracic Society — Patient resources
  3. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force — Lung cancer screening
  4. Medicare.gov — Lung cancer screenings
  5. Medicare.gov — Doctor & other health care provider services (Part B)
  6. MedlinePlus — Breathing difficulty