James Helzberg, MD
- Gastroenterology
- Transplant Hepatology
- Saint Luke's North Hospital
- Saint Luke's South Hospital
- Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City
Make an Appointment
About James Helzberg, MD
James Helzberg, MD, is a fellowship-trained transplant hepatologist and gastroenterologist with Saint Luke’s GI Specialists. Dr. Helzberg has clinical interest in general gastroenterology across the full spectrum of liver disease, including cirrhosis, autoimmune liver diseases, portal hypertension, cholestatic liver diseases, viral hepatitis, and liver transplantation.
Dr. Helzberg believes in taking the time to understand your specific situation, including your history, your priorities, and what matters most to you. He is committed to building a plan that fits your life, not just your diagnosis. He believes the best medical decisions are made together, through clear explanation, honest conversation, and trust. Whether managing a chronic liver condition, preparing for or recovering from a transplant, or addressing a digestive concern, his goal is for his patients to feel heard, informed, and supported at every step.
When not caring for patients, Dr. Helzberg enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis and golf, and cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and the Duke Blue Devils.
Publications
- Helzberg, JH, Henson, JB, Muir, AJ (2022). Recent updates in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for acute variceal bleeding. Clin Liver Dis. Vol 20: 97-101.
- Helzberg JH, Parish, A, Niedzwiecki, D, Kim, CY, Patel, YA, Wilder, JM, Muir, AJ (2022). Racial disparities in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt procedure outcomes. BMJ Open Gastroenterology. Vol 9: 1-6.
- Helzberg JH, Dai R, Muir AJ, Wilder J, Lee TH, Martin JG, Kim CY, Ronald J (2021). Socioeconomic status is associated with risk of hepatic encephalopathy after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology. Vol 32 (7):950-960.
- Helzberg, JH, Henson, JB, Muir, AJ (2024). Management of hepatitis C infection on non-hepatic solid organ transplant patients. Digestive Diseases Week 2024, Washington D.C.
- Helzberg, JH (March, 2024). Acute variceal bleed management: past, present, and future. Duke Gastroenterology Grand Rounds. Durham, NC.
- Helzberg, JH, Patel, A (2023). Role of pneumatic dilation in patients with non-achalasia obstructive disorders. PracticeUpdate.com (Online Commentary).
- Helzberg, JH, Henson, JB, Muir, AJ (2021) Complementary and alternative medicine use in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. American Association for the Study of Liver Disease Annual Meeting 2021, Anaheim, CA.
- Helzberg, JH, Henson, JB, Muir, AJ (2021) Sexual function and health in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting 2021, Las Vegas, NV
- Helzberg JH, Parish A, Niedzwiecki D, Kim CY, Wilder JM, Muir AJ (2018). TIPS outcomes according to race and ethnicity. American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting 2018, Philadelphia, PA. Outstanding Poster Presenter Award.
- Obimah, R, Martinez-Uribe, O, Helzberg, J, Gagliardi, J, Kappus, M (2024). Secondary syphilis can simultaneously mimic cholestatic liver injury and glomerular nephropathy. ACG Case Reports Journal. Vol 11.
- Li Z, Zhao J, Tikhanovich I, Kuravi S, Helzberg J, Dorko K, Roberts B, Kumer S, Weinman SA (2015). Serine 574 phosphorylation alters transcriptional programming of FOXO3 by selectively enhancing apoptotic gene expression. Cell Death and Differentiation. Vol 4: 583-595.
Smith D, Elliot J, Helzberg J (2013) Intravenous corticosteroid therapy for bilateral Parsonage-Turner Syndrome: A case report and review of the literature. Journal of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. Vol 39: 243-247. - Obimah, R, Martinez-Uribe, O, Helzberg, JH, Gagliardi, J, Kappus, M. Secondary syphilis can simultaneously mimic primary biliary cholangitis and glomerular nephropathy. American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting 2023, Vancouver, BC, CA.
- Hein, A, Helzberg, JH, Osborne, K, Kothari, D, Patel, A. Utilization of Diagnostic Testing and Indications for Long-Term Twice-Daily Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) Therapy for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in a Large Healthcare System. American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting 2022, Charlotte, NC.
- Koutlas N, Allen BC, Helzberg JH, Niedzwiecki D, Parish A, Bashir MR, Muir AJ (2020) Validation of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography Risk Prediction Score to Predict Clinical Events in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. Poster presented at Digestive Diseases Week 2020. Gastroenterology. Vol 158: S-1372-3.
- Muir AJ, Yao J, Wilder JM, Makarushka C, Keefe K, Helzberg JH, Mannelli P, Evon DM, Niedzwiecki D, Naggie S, Fried MW, Proeschold-Bell RJ (2018). The alcohol use disorders identification test screening in patients with hepatitis C. American Association for the Study of Liver Disease Annual Meeting 2018, San Francisco, CA.
- Setji NP, Reddy GB, Helzberg JH, Ross AK (2017). A Full House: Reshuffling patients to manage capacity across a health system. Society of Hospital Medicine Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV.
- Li Z, Zhao J, Kuravi S, Cox J, Helzberg J, Tikhanovich I, Weinman SA (2014). FOXO3-dependent macrophage apoptosis protects the liver from alcoholic injury. American Association for the Study of Liver Disease Annual Meeting 2014, Boston, MA. Presidential Poster of Distinction.
Available locations for James Helzberg, MD
My Locations
1 Saint Luke's Hospital Abdominal Transplant & Multi-Specialty Clinic (Liver)
Education & Credentials
Training & Education
Insurance
Browse the list below to view insurance plans.
The list below is for reference purposes only and is subject to change. Please check with your insurance to confirm that this doctor is included in your plan before scheduling an appointment.
Aetna Health Inc. Medicare Advantage Contract ends December 31, 2026
Aetna
- Aetna Choice POS II Local (excluding National General STM plan, I-35 Preferred Plan, and HCA, Advent Health, and NKC Hospital employee plans)
- Aetna Elect Choice
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice
- Aetna Medicare Assure (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Core Value HMO
- Aetna Medicare Premier Preferred HMO
- Aetna Medicare Premier and Premier Plus HMO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Select
- Aetna Signature Administrators (ASA)
- Aetna UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO)
- Aetna Workers Comp
Blue Cross
- BCBS of Kansas
- BCBS of Kansas Blue Choice Preferred Care Blue PPO
- BCBS of Kansas City Blue Select Plus (UCMO and City of KCMO)
- BCBS of Kansas City Federal PPO
- BCBS of Kansas City Freedom Network PPO
- BCBS of Kansas City Freedom Network Select PPO
- BCBS of Kansas City Preferred Care
- BCBS of Kansas City Preferred Care Blue
- BCBS of Kansas City Traditional
- BCBS of Kansas Federal
- BCBS of Kansas Traditional
- BCBS of Michigan Medicare Advantage PPO
Cigna
- Cigna HMO
- Cigna OAP
- Cigna PPO
- Great West Healthcare
Corvel
- Corvel
First Health Network
- First Health Network
Home State
- Home State Health Plan (Missouri Medicaid)
Humana
- Humana Gold Choice PFFS
- Humana Gold Plus HMO SNP - Medicare Advantage
- Humana Medicare Advantage Team Care Gold HMO
- Humana Medicare Advantage Team Care Gold PPO
MHNet
- Healthy Blue MO Medicaid
- MH Net Behavioral Health
Medicare
- American Health Advantage-Missouri Medicare Advantage
- Devoted Health Medicare Advantage (Core and Giveback)
- Kansas Health Advantage/Kansas Superior Select, Inc (KSSI) Medicare Advantage
- Medicare
MultiPlan
- MultiPlan
Orscheln Industries
- HealthSCOPE Benefits (Orsheln Industries)
Other
- BeechStreet
- Century Health Solutions (PPO)
- CompResults/CompAlliance (WC) PPO
- Health Choice of Northwest Missouri (PPO)
- Integrated Health Plan PPO
- Medica Connect
- Medica Select
- OHA Networks (WC)
- OHARA Managed Care (WC)
- Occupational Health Management PPO (WC)
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- ProviDRs Care Network PPO (formerly WPPA)
- Provider Partners Health Plan
- Sunflower State Health Plan Kansas Medicaid
Other Medicaid
- Healthy Blue KS Medicare Advantage DSNP
- Healthy Blue Kansas Medicaid
TriWest
- TriWest
United Healthcare
- UHC Medicare Erickson Advantage plans-KC
- United HealthCare Choice
- United HealthCare Choice Plus
- United HealthCare Community Plan (Missouri Medicaid)
- United HealthCare Navigate
- United HealthCare Select
- United HealthCare Select Plus
- United Healthcare - AARP Medicare Advantage Choice Plans
- United Healthcare - AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot
- United Healthcare - All Savers Insurance
- United Healthcare - Community Plan (Kansas Medicaid)
- United Healthcare - Core and Core Essential
- United Healthcare - Definity Health Reimbursement Account POS
- United Healthcare - Definity Health Savings Account POS
- United Healthcare - Golden Rule HMO (HMO & PPO)
- United Healthcare - Options PPO
- United Healthcare - United Health One
- United Healthcare Individual Exchange Benefit Plan (IEX) MO and KS Plans
- UnitedHealthcare - AARP Medicare Complete Choice
- UnitedHealthcare - AARP Medicare Complete HMO
- UnitedHealthcare - AARP Medicare Complete PPO
- UnitedHealthcare - Dual Complete SNP PPO (MO and KS)
- UnitedHealthcare - Group Medicare Advantage PPO
- UnitedHealthcare - Medicare Complete
- UnitedHealthcare - Medicare Gold SNP
- UnitedHealthcare - Medicare Silver SNP
Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend that you contact your health insurance company to verify that the location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your health insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles for which you are financially responsible, or out-of-network benefits for which you are eligible. If you are uninsured, you can find more information about our financial assistance policy here.
Ratings & Reviews
Overall Rating
Provider Overall Quality of Care
Recent Patient Reviews
About These Ratings
Saint Luke's partners with an independent survey company, National Research Corporation Health (NRC), to gather feedback directly from patients about their experiences. NRC sends electronic surveys to Saint Luke's patients following a medical visit, asking them to evaluate different aspects of their care. Once a provider receives at least 30 reviews, responses are calculated by our survey vendor and posted to the provider's profile using a five-star rating system. By collecting information in this way, you can trust that the reviews posted on our website are from verified patients of that provider and represent all responses to the survey.
We refer to Saint Luke’s providers as well as independent providers credentialed at a Saint Luke’s facility. Providers make no payments for these referrals and our selections are based on your needs and preferences.