Mary Behrens, MD in Baltimore: Internal Medicine with Direct-Pay and Insurance Options

Mary Behrens, MD runs a solo internal medicine practice in Baltimore that accepts both insurance and direct-pay patients, a hybrid arrangement that narrows the appointment-wait gap common in Baltimore's primary care landscape. She provides preventive care, acute illness management, and care coordination for chronic conditions, serving patients who either lack insurance, prioritize shorter wait times, or prefer integrated care with a stable provider.

What Mary Behrens, MD Actually Is

A solo practitioner internal medicine physician, Behrens operates outside a hospital system or large clinic network. She accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. She also welcomes self-pay patients and charges a monthly membership fee for direct access. This two-income model is rare in Baltimore's primary care sector, where most independent practices have closed or merged into health systems. Because she does not staff a hospital department or urgent care outlet, she is not appropriate for emergency conditions; those patients should go to the nearest emergency department instead.

Services and Direct-Pay Membership Fee

Behrens offers routine physical exams, preventive screenings, management of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, and acute care for infections and minor injuries. She performs in-office EKGs and basic lab draws. For patients who join her membership plan, a monthly fee grants direct phone and email access, same-week appointments, and reduced copays on services. Verify current membership pricing by calling her office directly; membership-based practices adjust fees based on demand and operating costs. Insurance copays and deductibles apply to insured visits and vary by plan.

How Behrens Compares to Other Baltimore Primary Care Options

Most independent primary care doctors in Baltimore operate under insurance only, booking 6 to 12 weeks out during peak demand. Hospital-employed physicians (through MedStar, GBMC, or Sinai) offer same-day or next-day urgent-visit slots but less continuity with a stable provider. Urgent care clinics like CareFirst Urgent Care on North Charles Street and Medrite Urgent Care in Canton handle acute illness faster, typically within 1 to 2 hours, but provide no ongoing preventive relationship. Behrens's hybrid model trades walk-in speed for appointment accessibility and relationship depth. Choose Behrens if you value consistent provider continuity and willingness to discuss lifestyle modification over time. Choose an urgent care clinic if you have acute illness today and need to be seen within hours. Choose a hospital-employed practice if your insurance network requires it and you accept longer waits for initial appointments.

Who Behrens Suits and Who She Does Not

Behrens suits patients who are uninsured or underinsured, already have a chronic condition requiring stable oversight, or simply prefer a smaller practice where the same physician sees them each visit. Self-pay patients in Baltimore often avoid primary care because of cost barriers; a transparent membership fee removes that friction. The practice also works well for patients who need a medical home for coordination with specialists.

Behrens is not appropriate for emergency conditions (go to an ER), acute severe illness requiring immediate imaging or IV treatment, or patients whose insurance prohibits out-of-network referrals to specialists. If you require same-day walk-in urgent care, an urgent care clinic or retail clinic will serve you faster.

What the First Visit Involves

A new patient should expect a 45-minute to one-hour visit. Behrens reviews medical history, performs a full physical exam, and discusses preventive health goals. She may order baseline labs (lipid panel, glucose, CBC) and EKG if indicated by age or risk factors. Bring a photo ID, insurance card (if applicable), and a list of any current medications and allergies. If you are considering membership, ask about the enrollment process and whether there is a waiting period before discounted rates apply.

Hours, Parking, and Logistics

Verify current office hours and parking situation by calling ahead; solo practices sometimes shift hours seasonally or adjust based on provider availability. Baltimore's office parking tends to be metered street parking or private lot. Ask whether the office has reserved patient parking or nearby lot access when you schedule. Behrens offers telephone and email communication for established patients, which reduces the need for follow-up in-person visits for routine check-ins and medication refills.

Why This Practice Fits Baltimore's Primary Care Gap

Baltimore has a persistent shortage of accepting primary care physicians, particularly those who see uninsured and Medicaid patients. Behrens's willingness to operate a hybrid model and maintain a small panel addresses that gap directly.