Daisy F. Lazarous, MD, FACC in Baltimore: Adult Cardiology with Direct Insurance Negotiation

Daisy F. Lazarous is a board-certified cardiologist in Baltimore who practices full-spectrum adult cardiac care, including diagnostic testing, coronary artery disease management, heart failure evaluation, and preventive cardiology. Her practice operates as an independent entity rather than within a large health system, which gives patients direct access to her as the primary decision-maker on testing and treatment without administrative layers that typically slow referral-dependent care in institutional settings.

What she actually offers

Dr. Lazarous holds certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease and belongs to the American College of Cardiology (FACC credential). Her scope covers initial evaluation of chest pain, dyspnea, palpitations, and syncope; management of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and atrial fibrillation; echocardiography; stress testing; and post-acute-coronary-syndrome follow-up. She does not perform interventional procedures such as cardiac catheterization or angioplasty, which means patients requiring coronary intervention receive referral coordination to interventional facilities. She does not operate an in-office cardiac imaging lab, so echocardiography and advanced imaging are coordinated through partner facilities, typically with results available for discussion at the next visit.

Insurance and out-of-pocket cost

Most major insurance plans including Medicare, BlueCross BlueShield, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna are accepted. Dr. Lazarous's practice directly negotiates allowed amounts with insurers rather than using a clearinghouse intermediary, meaning copay amounts and deductible application are often resolved before the visit. Established patients typically pay copays of $25 to $50 for office visits, with higher copays (often $75 to $150) if a specialist consultation is billed as a new-patient encounter. Deductible application varies by plan; patients should verify their plan details with the office directly. Uninsured patients are asked to confirm affordability at scheduling; no published cash-pay menu exists, so costs are discussed on a case-by-case basis before care begins.

How she compares to other Baltimore cardiologists

Baltimore has a fragmented cardiology landscape. Larger health systems including Johns Hopkins Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, and MedStar operate multispecialty cardiac centers with on-site catheterization labs, heart failure clinics, and imaging departments. Those centers are appropriate if you need procedural intervention or require integrated multi-specialty cardiac care, but scheduling can take 4 to 8 weeks and initial appointments often involve physician assistants rather than a cardiologist. Dr. Lazarous's independent practice offers faster scheduling (typically 1 to 3 weeks for new patients) and direct access to a physician at every visit, making her suitable for diagnostic workup, stable chronic disease management, and preventive risk assessment. Cardiologists affiliated with smaller Baltimore practices (such as those at Sinai Hospital or Bon Secours) offer similar autonomy but less flexibility in imaging coordination; Dr. Lazarous's negotiation relationships with regional imaging centers reduce referral delay.

Who suits this practice and who does not

New patients with uncomplicated cardiac risk factors, stable chest pain, or asymptomatic hypertension benefit most from her direct-access model. Patients needing same-day or urgent cardiac imaging or intervention should use an emergency department or a system-based cardiology clinic instead. Patients with complex multi-organ disease or those already established in a health system cardiology program gain little by switching. Patients requiring cardiac surgery, advanced heart failure support with mechanical devices, or electrophysiology (arrhythmia ablation, pacemakers) should remain in or transfer to a center-based practice.

The first visit: what to expect

New-patient appointments run 45 to 60 minutes. Bring your insurance card, a complete medication list, and records from your primary care physician or any prior cardiac testing. Dr. Lazarous performs a detailed history, physical examination including carotid and peripheral vascular assessment, and reviews your cardiovascular risk. She orders testing based on findings: office electrocardiography, stress testing, or referral for echocardiography. Results are reviewed at a follow-up visit (scheduled 1 to 2 weeks later) before any treatment changes are made.

Hours, location, and parking

Dr. Lazarous maintains office hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, with lunch closure from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Her practice is located in the Roland Park area of Baltimore (verify exact address and any recent changes when scheduling). Street and lot parking are available; no valet service. The office is accessible by the #3 and #40 MTA buses from downtown.

This practice fills a gap for Baltimore patients needing cardiology evaluation without the administrative delays of large health systems, and her independent status allows genuine negotiation of costs before care begins.