Gary Plotnick, MD in Baltimore: Hepatology Specialist for Liver Disease and Transplant Care
Gary Plotnick is a hepatologist and internist based in Baltimore who specializes in liver disease management, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and pre- and post-transplant care. He practices within the Johns Hopkins health system, one of the two major academic medical systems in the city, and accepts referrals for patients requiring specialist-level liver evaluation and ongoing treatment.
What Plotnick does
Hepatology is a narrowly defined subspecialty within internal medicine. Plotnick focuses on the diagnosis and management of conditions affecting the liver, including hepatitis B and C, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), autoimmune hepatitis, and cirrhosis at various stages. His practice includes pre-transplant evaluation and clearance for patients being considered for liver transplantation, as well as post-transplant follow-up care. This level of specialization is not available from a primary care physician; patients typically reach a hepatologist through referral from their internist or gastroenterologist after initial diagnosis or imaging findings suggest liver involvement.
Services and typical referral pathway
Hepatologists do not operate on a walk-in basis. New patients are seen by referral only, usually from a primary care doctor, gastroenterologist, or another specialist who has identified liver abnormality on imaging or blood work. The first appointment typically includes detailed history, physical examination, and review of prior imaging and laboratory results. Plotnick may order additional testing such as ultrasound, transient elastography (a non-invasive measure of liver stiffness), viral hepatitis serologies, or other specialized blood work depending on the presentation.
Pricing in hepatology is usually straightforward: the specialist consultation is billed at the standard Johns Hopkins rate for that visit type, and subsequent visits are charged similarly. Insurance coverage depends entirely on the patient's plan and whether Johns Hopkins is in-network. Many Maryland insurance plans do cover Johns Hopkins specialists, but confirmation of coverage should be made at the time of referral.
Waiting time for a hepatology appointment in Baltimore typically runs 4 to 8 weeks from referral, depending on clinical urgency and current demand. Patients with evidence of decompensated cirrhosis or acute liver failure may be expedited.
How hepatology compares in Baltimore
Baltimore has two major academic hepatology practices. Beyond Johns Hopkins, where Plotnick practices, the University of Maryland Medical Center also maintains a dedicated hepatology section with multiple specialists. Both programs participate in liver transplantation; Johns Hopkins operates Maryland's two liver transplant programs (adult and pediatric), while UM operates a separate transplant program. For patients with straightforward viral hepatitis or stable chronic liver disease, either system is appropriate. For complex cases, transplant evaluation, or post-transplant management, the choice between Johns Hopkins and UM should be guided by insurance coverage and physician familiarity rather than outcomes data, which are comparable at both institutions.
Patients without academic medical center insurance coverage may find hepatology more difficult to access; private hepatology practices in Baltimore are limited, and community hospital systems often refer complex liver disease to Johns Hopkins or UM.
Who this fits and who it does not
Plotnick is the right choice for patients with diagnosed or suspected liver disease who need specialist expertise. This includes anyone with chronic hepatitis B or C, cirrhosis, elevated liver enzymes of unclear cause, imaging suggesting fatty liver or fibrosis, or clearance for transplant. Patients with simple fatty liver detected incidentally on imaging and normal liver function tests may not need hepatology referral; their primary care doctor can counsel on lifestyle modification and monitor liver enzymes annually.
Patients whose insurance does not include Johns Hopkins, or who have significant transportation barriers to the downtown Baltimore medical campus, should discuss alternative hepatology referrals with their primary care doctor before requesting an appointment with Plotnick.
Hours and logistics
Plotnick's clinic operates during standard business hours at the Johns Hopkins Hospital outpatient building or related Johns Hopkins facilities in Baltimore. Patients should confirm the specific clinic location and current hours at the time of referral. Parking is available at Johns Hopkins; garages fill quickly during peak clinic hours, and patients should plan to arrive 15 minutes early for their first visit to complete registration.
Gary Plotnick offers the depth of hepatology expertise that patients with advanced liver disease require, and his affiliation with Johns Hopkins ensures access to transplant evaluation and post-transplant care without additional referral.
