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Home > NE Providers > Internists & Internal Medicine Doctors

Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS

(46 Ratings)

Specializes in: Internal Medicine (Adult Medicine) and Endocrinology

Professional interests include: endocrine diseases (hormone disorders), diabetes, parathyroid disease, and more.

2510 Bellevue Medical Center Drive Suite 150
Bellevue, NE 68123

(402) 559-8700

Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS is an internist in Bellevue, NE specializing in internal medicine (adult medicine) and endocrinology. Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS is affiliated with Nebraska Medicine and UNMC PHYSICIANS.

Office Locations

Nebraska Medicine

2510 Bellevue Medical Center Drive Suite 150
Bellevue, NE 68123

(402) 559-8700

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2727 S. 144th Street Suite 140
Omaha, NE 68144

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4350 Emile Street
Omaha, NE 68105

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Some issues Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS can help you with:

Thyroid Problems

Thyroid problems are a group of conditions that alter hormone regulation and metabolism. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the lower neck, just below the Adam's apple (laryngeal prominence) and larynx (voice box). Despite its small size, the thyroid has an outsized effect on the body by regulating hormones that control metabolism. Metabolism is the body's process of converting consumed food into fuel to power the entire body. Heart rate, weight, cholesterol, body temperature, and even physical growth and development are all affected by the metabolism.

When the thyroid malfunctions, the body is unable to properly process and allocate energy. Thyroid problems, such as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), cause irregular metabolism. In some cases, the body produces antibodies that attack the thyroid cells for unknown reasons. The damaged thyroid responds by releasing either too little or too much T3 and T4 thyroid hormones. Thyroid malfunctions may also arise from genetic causes or iodine deficiency. Thyroid problems may include:

Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that causes hypothyroidism
Graves' disease, an autoimmune disease that causes hyperthyroidism
Goiter
Thyroid nodule
Thyroid cancer

Hashimoto's is the leading cause of hypothyroidism, which is when the thyroid does not produce enough hormones to stimulate adequate metabolism. The condition is diagnosed by blood tests that measure TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and detect Hashimoto's antibodies. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include sluggish metabolism, inflammation, fatigue, weight gain, brittle hair, dry skin, and sensitivity to cold. To supplement impaired thyroid function, patients with Hashimoto's are typically prescribed synthetic thyroid hormone pills. Such patients may need to consume synthetic thyroids for the rest of their lives. Other treatments may include dietary changes, such as the avoidance of certain foods and medication to reduce inflammation. Frequent blood tests can inform patients if their TSH levels are within a normal range.

Grave's disease is most frequently the cause of hyperthyroidism, which is when the thyroid produces too many hormones, overstimulating one's metabolism. The condition is also diagnosed by blood tests that measure TSH and detect Grave's antibodies. Elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, sweating, bulging eyes, and weight loss are common symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Treatments for hyperthyroidism include oral radioactive iodine, which slowly shrinks the thyroid, slowing the production of excess thyroid hormone. Other anti-thyroid medications such as methimazole (Tapazole) also reduce the production of thyroid hormones. Blood pressure medications known as beta blockers can ease the increased heart rate caused by hyperthyroidism. If treatments are unsuccessful, patients may be prescribed a thyroidectomy, or surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid. Some patients with hyperthyroidism may require ophthalmological (eye medicine) treatments such as eye drops, prednisone, and surgery to reduce eye swelling and bulging.

Untreated thyroid disorders frequently lead to goiters or thyroid nodules. A thyroid goiter is a large lump that can be felt near the base of the neck and is made of swollen thyroid tissue or nodules (excess cell growth). Nodules and goiters are diagnosed by CT scan or ultrasound. Obstructive goiters can cause pain, coughing, and abnormal breathing. The most common cause of goiters is hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). However, Hashimoto's is also known to cause goiters or nodules. Goiters develop from continued damage from antibodies to the thyroid over time. At times, a goiter can result from a cancerous thyroid tumor. Most goiters and nodules are themselves benign.

The exact causes of thyroid cancer are unknown. People who develop thyroid cancer may or may not have another thyroid problem such as Hashimoto's or Grave's disease. Symptoms of thyroid cancer include a nodule that can be felt on the neck, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, swelling in the neck, and neck and throat pain. CT and MRI scans are used to diagnose thyroid cancer. There are four types of thyroid cancer which vary in intensity. Thyroidectomy (thyroid removal surgery) is usually prescribed to treat thyroid cancer.

Thyroid problems are often long-term conditions that require some form of treatment. With regular monitoring and medication, many people with thyroid problems are able to lead active and fulfilling lives.

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 10%

By Volume:

inpatient hospital care

In 2023, Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS performed more inpatient hospital care (for patient admitted to hospital) procedures for Medicare patients than 90% of providers in related specialties within Nebraska.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS treated as an internist in Bellevue, NE during 2020 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	26
hospital care	132
inpatient care	132

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS.

**Gender**
Male	25
Female	44

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	54
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	30

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS in 2020

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS treated during 2020 were chronic kidney disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	55
Depression	51
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	46
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	75
Dementia	19
Cancer	19

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS treated as an internist in Bellevue, NE during 2021 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	102
hospital care	719
inpatient care	719

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS.

**Gender**
Male	102
Female	95

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	154
Black	18
Hispanic	12
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	82
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	77

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS in 2021

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS treated during 2021 were chronic kidney disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	56
Depression	46
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	17
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	45
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	21
Diabetes	75
Dementia	17
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS treated as an internist in Bellevue, NE during 2022 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	128
hospital care	598
inpatient care	598

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS.

**Gender**
Male	88
Female	100

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	156
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	73
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	70

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS in 2022

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS treated during 2022 were diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	14
Ischemic Heart Disease	44
Depression	45
Chronic Kidney Disease	61
Asthma	19
Osteoperosis	19
Atrial Fibrilation	30
Heart Failure	40
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	75
Dementia	9
Cancer	18

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS treated as an internist in Bellevue, NE during 2023 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	128
hospital care	482
inpatient care	482

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS.

**Gender**
Male	94
Female	82

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	148
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	81
From 75 to 84	44
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS in 2023

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS treated during 2023 were diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	20
Ischemic Heart Disease	48
Depression	40
Chronic Kidney Disease	64
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	33
Heart Failure	42
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	75
Dementia	10
Cancer	16

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2020 - 2023

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS treated as an internist in Bellevue, NE were hospital care and inpatient care.

doctor visit	96
hospital care	482
inpatient care	482

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2020 - 2023

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS.

**Gender**
Male	77
Female	80

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	4
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	128
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	3
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	11
85 and over	0
Less than 65	44
65 to 74	59

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS From 2020 - 2023

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS treated were diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	50
Depression	45
Chronic Kidney Disease	68
Asthma	11
Osteoporosis	12
Heart Failure	43
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	75
Atrial Fibrillation	25
Cancer	15
Dementia	13

Education & Training

She completed residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). She is certified by the Board Certification: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and has a state license in Pennsylvania.

Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) (2018)

Board Certification: Board Certification: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Licensed In: Pennsylvania

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Nebraska Medicine

UNMC PHYSICIANS

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Insurance Accepted by Affiliated Medical Group or Hospital:

UnitedHealthcare: Optum VA Community Care Network (CCN)

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska: BCBSNE Network Blue

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska: BSCSNE Student Blue

Medicare Advantage: Molina Iowa Medicare Advantage (Beginning Jan. 1, 2026)

Midlands Choice: Commercial plans

Medicaid Iowa: Wellpoint Iowa

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska: BSCSNE BlueCard PPO

Aetna Healthcare: Aetna High Performance Network (Nebraska Health Network)

Aetna Healthcare: Aetna (Broad Network)

UnitedHealthcare: Medica

Medicaid Nebraska: Nebraska Medicaid

Medicare Advantage: Medica Advantage Solution

Medicare Advantage: HumanaChoice (PPO) Medicare Advantage

Medicaid Nebraska: Molina Nebraska DSNP

Medicare Advantage: BCBSNE Medicare Advantage Choice (HMO-POS)

Nebraska Furniture Mart Employee Plan Tier 1

Medicaid Iowa: Molina Iowa Medicaid

Aetna Healthcare: First Health (except "First Health Professionals Only")

Medicaid Nebraska: Every Woman Matters

Medicaid Nebraska: UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Nebraska

Humana: Humana One PPO

Medicare Advantage: UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage

Tricare West: Tricare West for Life

Medica: Medica Commercial

UnitedHealthcare: United Medical Resources

Medicare Advantage: Medica Prime Solution Total Cost Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage: Aetna Medicare Premium Advantra (PPO)

Medicare Advantage: WellCare by Nebraska Total Care Medicare Advantage

Ambetter: Ambetter

Medicaid Kansas: Sunflower Health

UnitedHealthcare: UnitedHealthcare

Medicaid Iowa: Iowa Medicaid

MultiPlan: MultiPlan (Does not include PHCS)

Century Health Solutions: Century Health Solutions

UnitedHealthcare: NexusACO

UnitedHealthcare: Golden Rule

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska: BSCSNE BlueCard HMO (only with suitcase logo)

Medicare: Medicare Part A & B

Medica: Medica Insure

Tricare West: Tricare West Prime

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska: BCBSNE Federal Plan

Medicare Advantage: Aetna Medicare Premier Advantra (PPO)

Medicare Advantage: BCBSNE Medicare Advantage Core (HMO)

Aetna Healthcare: Aetna Signature Administrators

Wellmark of Iowa: Wellmark Blue HMO

Medicaid Kansas: AmeriGroup Kansas

UnitedHealthcare: Oxford Health

Medicaid Kansas: UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Kansas

Tricare West: Tricare West Active Duty

Medicaid Iowa: Iowa Total Care

Medicare Advantage: WellCare Iowa Medicare Advantage

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska: BSCSNE Select Blue

Midwest Network Alliance

Medicaid Iowa: Iowa Care for Yourself

Medica: Medica Elevate

Medicare Advantage: Humana Gold (HMO) Medicare Advantage

Medicaid Nebraska: Molina Nebraska Medicaid

University of Nebraska Employee Plan Enhanced Tier

Medicare Advantage: Aetna Medicare Elite Advantra (PPO)

Medicaid Nebraska: Nebraska Total Care

Humana: Humana Choice Care

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.76 out of 5 stars based on 46 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS from all over the web to help you find the right in Bellevue, NE.

4.76

Overall Rating

(46 Ratings)

Leave a Review

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Preethi Polavarapu, MD, MBBS. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation	$125 ZERBAXA $125

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$125

Biography

Dr. Preethi Polavarapu is a specialist in endocrinology in Bellevue, NE and Omaha, NE. Patients gave her an average rating of 5.0 stars (out of 5). Her clinical interests include diabetes, thyroid problems, and pituitary disorders. Dr. Polavarapu is affiliated with Nebraska Medicine. She completed her residency training at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).