Matxalen Amezaga Urruela, MD
Kelsey-Seybold Medical Group Provider
PointerLanguage(s): English, Spanish
25553 U.S. Highway 59,
Porter,
TX
77365
Joined Kelsey-Seybold: July 2023
Ways to Schedule an Appointment
My Video Profile
Dr. Urruela believes that patients who understand their condition or disease do better. She believes that when patients understand the rationale of their treatment plan, it leads to them being more engaged with their medical care. This improves and strengthens the partnership between providers and patients and increases the chances of achieving the desired health outcome.
My Biography
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Professional Background
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Professional Associations
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Hobbies and Interests
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Awards & Publications
Matxalen Amezaga Urruela, MD, completed her medical degree at University of Central Venezuela in Caracas, Venezuela in 2004. She went on to complete her residency in Internal Medicine at Griffin Hospital – Yale University School of Medicine in Derby, Connecticut in 2011. Following her residency, she completed her Rheumatology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston in 2013. Dr. Urruela is double board certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
She joined our team of Kelsey-Seybold specialist physicians as a rheumatologist in July 2023. Her clinical interests in Rheumatology are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), and gout.
Dr. Urruela is a member of the American College of Rheumatology, American College of Physicians, and the American Medical Association.
In her spare time, Dr. Urrela enjoys reading and performing outdoor activities with her family and pets.
Awards
- Living the Promise Award, Lee Health, 2020
- Chairman's Award, Griffin Hospital, 2011
- Resident of the Year, Griffin Hospital, 2011
- Chairman's Award, Griffin Hospital, 2010
- "Manuel Corachán Garcia" Best Scientific Poster: Temporal Vascular Shunt in severely injured patient. Venezuelan Surgical Society. Caracas, Venezuela, 2006
Publications
- "Rituximab for rheumatoid arthritis " Lopez-Olivo, M. A., Amezaga Urruela, M., Mcgahan, L., Pollono, E. N. & Suarez-Almazor, M. E., Jan 20 2015, In: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2017, 6, CD007356.
- “Use of a computerized order set to increase prescription of calcium and vitamin D supplementation in patients receiving glucocorticoids”. Minna J Kohler 1, Matxalen Amezaga, James Drozd, Susan T Crowley, Barbara Gulanski, Daren R Anderson, Liana Fraenkel. J Gen Intern Med. 2013 Jun;28(6):825-9. doi: 10.1007/s11606-013-2360-1. Epub 2013 Feb 13.
- “Acupuncture in the treatment of rheumatic diseases”. Urruela M.A., Suarez-Almazor M.E. (2012) Current Rheumatology Reports, 14 (6) , pp. 589-597.
- “Lipid paradox in rheumatoid arthritis: Changes with rheumatoid arthritis therapies”. Urruela M.A., Suarez-Almazor M.E. (2012), Current Rheumatology Reports, 14 (5), pp. 428-437.
- “Improving Adherence to Glucocorticoid Induced Osteoporosis Guidelines”. Kohler M, Amezaga M, Drozd J, Crowley S, Gulanski B, Anderson D, Fraenkel L. Oral presentation. ACR meeting, Chicago, 2011.
- “Improving Adherence to Glucocorticoid Induced Osteoporosis Guidelines”. Kohler M, Amezaga M, Drozd J, Crowley S, Gulanski B, Anderson D, Fraenkel L. Poster. ACR meeting, FIT Program, Chicago, 2011.
- "A Case of tuberculosis exploring the risk factors." Poster. ACP Connecticut Chapter Meeting, October 2009.
- "Temporal Vascular Shunt in severely injured patients." Poster. Zulia, Venezuela. XXVIII Congreso Venezolano de Cirugía y II Congreso Internacional de Cirugía, March 2006.
- "Diabetic Retinopathy Revision." Peer Reviewed Journals. Caracas. Venezuela. Revista Archivos del Hospital Vargas, 2004, 4691-4: 7-21.
- "Cholecystocolonic fistula. Case Report." Case Report. Caracas. Venezuela. LXI Jornada Capitular de Cirugía, November 2004.
Accepted Insurance
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Aetna Plans
KelseyCare Aetna
Aetna PPO, POS, and EPO Plans
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic is an in-network provider for most Aetna PPO, POS, and EPO plans*, including:
- Aetna Select
- Open Access Select
- Elect Choice
- Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
- Aetna Choice POS II
- Managed Choice
- Open Choice PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans
Aetna CVS Health Marketplace Plans
A Kelsey-Seybold PCP is required to schedule a primary care appointment. Please contact Aetna at the phone number on the back of your member ID card, or go online to the Aetna CVS member portal to change to a Kelsey-Seybold PCP prior to your appointment.
Effective January 1, 2024
- Silver 1
- Silver 2
- Silver 5
- Silver 6
- Silver 7
- Silver S
- Gold 3
- Gold 4
- Gold S
*All Houston area Aetna CVS Health plans are accepted at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic*
*Kelsey-Seybold does not participate in any commercial Aetna HMO and HNO plans, including Aetna QPOS.
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Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans
Blue Cross Blue Shield
The specific BCBSTX PPO and HMO plans in which Kelsey-Seybold participates are:
- Anthem BCBS PPO
- Blue Access Choice PPO
- Blue Access PPO
- Blue Card PPO
- Blue Edge PPO
- Blue Essentials HMO Click here to learn more about selecting a Kelsey Primary Care Physician
- Blue Choice PPO
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program (Basic and Standard Option)
- Health Select of Texas - ERS Click here to learn more about selecting a Kelsey Primary Care Physician
- TRS-ActiveCare Primary Click here to learn more about selecting a Kelsey Primary Care Physician
- TRS-ActiveCare Primary+ Click here to learn more about selecting a Kelsey Primary Care Physician
- TRS-ActiveCare HD
- TRS-ActiveCare 2
- UT Select
Kelsey-Seybold will not participate in the following BCBSTX plans: Blue Premier, Blue High-Performance network, Marketplace plans: My Blue Health, and Blue Advantage HMO, or any BCBSTX Medicare products. View FAQ (pdf)
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Cigna Plans
Cigna
- Choice Fund PPO
- Choice Fund Open Access Plus (OAP)
- Cigna EPO
- Cigna HMO
- Note: A Kelsey-Seybold PCP is required to schedule a primary care appointment. Please contact Cigna at the phone number on the back of your member ID card or go online to the Cigna member portal to select a Kelsey-Seybold PCP prior to your appointment.
- Cigna KelseyCare
- Cigna HMO Open Access (OA)
- Cigna HMO Open Access Plus (OAP)
- Cigna POS
- Cigna PPO
- Cigna Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP)
- Cigna Surefit
- Note: A Kelsey-Seybold PCP is required to schedule a primary care appointment. Please contact Cigna at the phone number on the back of your member ID card or go online to the Cigna member portal to select a Kelsey-Seybold PCP prior to your appointment.
- KelseyCare powered by Cigna
- LocalPlus
- LocalPlus IN
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Humana Plans
Humana
Non-Medicare Advantage
- Humana PPO
- Humana Preferred PPO
- Humana Preferred POS (Open Access)
- Humana ChoiceCare PPO
- Humana National POS Open Access
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Kelsey Plans
Kelsey Plan
When you select a Kelsey Plan, you’re choosing the doctors at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic to deliver and coordinate your care. Learn more here.
KelseyCare Advantage
KelseyCare Aetna
Kelsey-Seybold does not participate in Aetna HMO and HNO plans, including Aetna QPOS.
KelseyCare Powered by Cigna
HMO - More Information
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Medicare Advantage Plans
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Other Plans
Allied Benefit Systems/NGBS
Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB)
- APWU Health Plan Nationwide – CDHP with UnitedHealthcare PPO
- APWU Health Plan Nationwide – High Option with Cigna PPO
- GEHA Benefit Plan Nationwide – High & Standard Options with UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus
- NALC Nationwide with Cigna OAP
- NALC Value Option Nationwide with Cigna OAP
- SAMBA Nationwide – High & Standard with Cigna OAP
- Blue Cross Blue Shield – Standard Option
- Blue Cross Blue Shield – Basic Option
Great West Healthcare (also known as Cigna-GWH)
- POS
- PPO
- Open Access
HealthSmart PPO
Medicare
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic accepts the following Medicare Advantage Plans: KelseyCare Advantage, Aetna Medicare Advantage, WellCare TexanPlus, Humana Medicare and select UnitedHealthcare plans. Effective January 1, 2009, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic does not accept patients with traditional Medicare.
MultiPlan PPO
Private Healthcare Systems PPO (PHCS)
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UnitedHealthcare Plans
UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Individual & Family Plans
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Bronze Copay Focus
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Bronze-A Copay Focus
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Bronze-B Copay Focus
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Bronze-X Copay Focus
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Silver Copay Focus
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Silver-E Copay Focus
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Silver-D Copay Focus
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Silver-C Copay Focus
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Silver-A Copay Focus
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Silver-B Copay Focus
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Silver-X Copay Focus
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Gold Copay Focus
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Gold-A Copay Focus
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Gold-B Copay Focus
- UHC Kelsey-Seybold Gold-X Copay Focus
UnitedHealthcare (UHC)
- UnitedHealthcare Charter
- Note: A Kelsey-Seybold PCP is required to schedule a primary care appointment. Please contact United Healthcare Charter at the phone number on the back of your member ID card or go online to the United Healthcare member portal to select a Kelsey-Seybold PCP prior to your appointment.
- UnitedHealthcare Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Core
- UnitedHealthcare Core Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Navigate
- Note: A Kelsey-Seybold PCP is required to schedule a primary care appointment. Please contact United Healthcare Navigate at the phone number on the back of your member ID card or go online to the United Healthcare member portal to select a Kelsey-Seybold PCP prior to your appointment.
- UnitedHealthcare Navigate Plus
- Note: A Kelsey-Seybold PCP is required to schedule a primary care appointment. Please contact United Healthcare Navigate Plus at the phone number on the back of your member ID card or go online to the United Healthcare member portal to select a Kelsey-Seybold PCP prior to your appointment.
- UnitedHealthcare NexusACO-R
- Note: A Kelsey-Seybold PCP is required to schedule a primary care appointment. Please contact United Healthcare NexusACO at the phone number on the back of your member ID card or go online to the United Healthcare member portal to select a Kelsey-Seybold PCP prior to your appointment.
- UnitedHealthcare NexusACO (OAP and OA)
- UnitedHealthcare Options PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Select
- UnitedHealthcare Select Plus
Education and Board Certifications
Medical School
- Central University of Venezuela – School of Medicine, Jose Maria Vargas – Caracas, Venezuela, 1998 – 2004
Internship/Residency
- Residency in Internal Medicine at Griffin Hospital – Yale University School of Medicine in Derby, Connecticut in 2008 – 2011.
Board Certifications
- American Board of Internal Medicine - Internal Medicine
- American Board of Internal Medicine - Rheumatology