The Proprietary DotMD™ J3 Model rates Dr. Stafford 4.7★ because his thin Google profile (3.7★ from only 7 reviews) is outweighed by 4.9/5 across 341 UMMS ratings and 5.0 scores on WebMD, Healthgrades and Vitals, plus very high CMS volume (91.67th state percentile, 2,707 Medicare beneficiaries/yr, 4,903 procedures). His 47 years of experience and subspecialty depth in interventional cardiology, pulmonary hypertension and heart attack care support a GreatDoc™™ Rating, though the small Google sample was weighted cautiously.
Dr. James Stafford, MD (Baltimore, MD Interventional Cardiology): GreatDoc™ Score, Real Patient Reviews, Procedure Volume & First-Visit Guide.
Dr. James Stafford, MD is a board-registered Interventional Cardiology specialist in Baltimore, MD (NPI #1760445886) with 17+ years of clinical experience caring for 2,707 Medicare beneficiaries per year (4,903 annual clinical procedures) and holding a 4.7 ★ GreatDoc™ Rating.
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dotMD.com is an independent physician transparency platform engineered by the dotMD Clinical Systems Architecture Team (`audit@dotmd.com`). Physicians cannot pay to alter their GreatDoc™ Score, hide negative patient reviews, or boost placement:
- CMS NPPES & State Medical Board Verification: National Provider Identifier (NPI) credentials, active practice addresses, and taxonomy subspecialties are cross-checked against the Federal CMS NPPES Registry .
- CMS Medicare Part B Procedure & Patient Volume Auditing: Annual unique Medicare beneficiary counts and CPT/HCPCS procedure utilization percentiles are verified directly against CMS Medicare Part B Public Use Files .
- GreatDoc™ Score via `dotMD-ClaimAudit v4.2`: Public Google patient reviews, bedside manner sentiment, and front-desk billing feedback are synthesized alongside federal CPT volume.
The Proprietary DotMD™ J3 Model rates Dr. Stafford 4.7★ because his thin Google profile (3.7★ from only 7 reviews) is outweighed by 4.9/5 across 341 UMMS ratings and 5.0 scores on WebMD, Healthgrades and Vitals, plus very high CMS volume (91.67th state percentile, 2,707 Medicare beneficiaries/yr, 4,903 procedures). His 47 years of experience and subspecialty depth in interventional cardiology, pulmonary hypertension and heart attack care support a GreatDoc™™ Rating, though the small Google sample was weighted cautiously.
Does Dr. James Stafford, MD Take Your Insurance?
Click your carrier below to check Original Medicare Part B, Commercial PPOs, HMO/IPA referral rules, and CPT 99204 superbill verification—with zero sign-up wall:
DotMD Star Rating & Patient Reviews for Dr. James Stafford, MD
Seeded with our independent DotMD Clinical & CMS Volume Audit (4.7 ★) and updated live by real patients in Baltimore, MD.
Verified DotMD Evaluations & Patient Reviews (1)
Sorted by Newest & Clinical RelevanceDoes Dr. James Stafford, MD Take My Insurance?
Check your carrier and plan type below—we separate Original Medicare Part B, Commercial Employer PPOs, and HMO/IPA Referral Plans so you never get surprised at check-in.
Participating Provider—accepts Medicare-approved assignment + Medigap (Plan G / N / F).
Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna & UnitedHealthcare PPOs (no PCP referral required).
Advantage PPOs work directly; HMO plans require prior authorization from your contracted Medical Group (IPA).
Ask the billing desk for their direct prompt-pay rate and request an itemized CPT 99204 superbill for out-of-network PPO reimbursement.
Original Medicare (Part B) + Medigap Supplement
✓ Verified Participating (Accepts Assignment)Federal CMS Part B records verify NPI #1760445886 treats 2,707 Medicare beneficiaries/yr and accepts Medicare-approved allowable fees (80% Medicare + 20% Medigap after annual Part B deductible).
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
✓ Major PPO Plans AcceptedEmployer and individual PPO plans are widely accepted. Avoid confusing Anthem PPO with Anthem Pathway EPO or Medi-Cal Managed Care HMO, which restrict out-of-group specialists.
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS National BlueCard)
✓ PPO & BlueCard AcceptedIf you have Blue Shield Trio HMO or Access+ HMO, you must first obtain an authorized specialist referral from your assigned Primary Care Medical Group (IPA).
Aetna (CVS Health)
✓ Open Choice PPO & POS IIConfirm your specific employer group network ID on the back of your Aetna card when scheduling.
UnitedHealthcare (UHC)
✓ Choice Plus & Options PPOUHC Medicare Advantage HMO (AARP) plans require your primary care medical group to match the specialist’s contracted IPA; UHC PPO plans allow direct self-referral.
Cigna Healthcare
✓ Open Access Plus (OAP) & PPONo primary care referral is required for Cigna Open Access Plus (OAP) or PPO plans.
Medicare Advantage (Part C — Humana, SCAN, Alignment, UHC, Aetna)
⚠ PPO Direct • HMO Needs IPA AuthUnlike Original Medicare Part B (where you can see any participating specialist nationwide), Medicare Advantage HMOs lock you to a specific Medical Group (IPA). Ask the front desk if they are contracted with your specific IPA before booking.
Kaiser Permanente, Commercial HMOs & Medi-Cal / Medicaid
⚠ Out-of-Network / Auth RequiredClosed-panel HMOs (like Kaiser Permanente) and narrow-network EPO/Medi-Cal plans generally do not cover independent Beverly Hills private-practice specialists unless you pay cash or obtain a formal gap-exception authorization.
“Hi, I’m scheduling a new consultation with Dr. James Stafford (NPI #1760445886). Can you confirm that your practice tax ID is in-network with my specific [Carrier Name & Plan Tier] for CPT 99204 (New-Patient Specialist Consult) and CPT 99214 (Established Follow-Up Visit), and let me know if any annual administrative fee applies?”
Walk Into Your 15-Minute Appointment With Exact Labs, CPT Codes & Opening Words
Clinicians interrupt patients after a median of 11 seconds (J Gen Intern Med, PMID 29972200). Select your appointment reason below to generate your 1-page script:
Hypothyroidism, Subclinical TSH Drift (2.5–8.0 mIU/L) or Thyroid Nodule
"I have two specific goals for our 15 minutes today: first, my morning TSH is [X] mIU/L with persistent fatigue and cold intolerance, so I would like to evaluate Free T4, Free T3, TPO Antibodies, and Ferritin together; second, if we palpate any thyroid asymmetry, can we perform an in-office neck ultrasound (CPT 76536)?"
Confirms the endocrinologist images thyroid nodules themselves rather than sending you to a hospital radiology department.
Identifies structural thyroid specialists vs. general diabetes-only clinics.
- ✓ TSH + Free T4 + Free T3 (drawn before 8:30 AM fasting)
- ✓ Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) & Thyroglobulin Antibodies (Hashimoto rule-out)
- ✓ Serum Ferritin + Vitamin D 25(OH)D (required for T4-to-T3 deiodinase conversion)
Hold all Biotin (Vitamin B7) supplements for 72 hours before your blood draw so streptavidin assay interference does not create a false TSH/Free T4 reading.
Prediabetes (HbA1c 5.7%–6.4%), Type 2 Diabetes or Insulin Resistance
"My recent HbA1c came back at [X]%. Today I want to check my Fasting Insulin to calculate HOMA-IR, discuss starting Extended-Release Metformin ER ($5.40/mo cash) or a 14-day Continuous Glucose Monitor trial (CPT 95251), and establish a 90-day re-test target below 5.4%."
Verifies the clinic actively prescribes and interprets Dexcom/Libre CGM sensor data.
Standard outpatient evaluation code; ask for transparent self-pay rates ($120–$180) if uninsured.
- ✓ HbA1c + Fasting Plasma Glucose + Fasting Serum Insulin (HOMA-IR)
- ✓ Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (eGFR + ALT/AST liver enzymes for fatty liver check)
- ✓ Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (uACR) + Annual Serum Vitamin B12 (if on Metformin)
Bring a 3-day log of post-dinner fingerstick or CGM readings and confirm whether your pharmacy filled Metformin ER (Extended-Release) rather than immediate-release.
Stage 1–2 Hypertension (≥ 130/80 mmHg) or Elevated LDL-C / ApoB / Lp(a)
"My 7-day rested home blood pressure averages [X/Y] mmHg and my LDL-C is [Z] mg/dL. Today I would like to review my home cuff log against office white-coat readings, order direct Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and one-time genetic Lipoprotein(a), and decide if a CAC score or low-dose statin/ARB is warranted."
Assesses left ventricular wall thickness and valve function directly in the cardiology suite.
Baseline rhythm and conduction screen prior to antihypertensive titration.
- ✓ Direct Apolipoprotein B (ApoB target < 80 mg/dL) + One-Time Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a) in nmol/L]
- ✓ High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP < 1.0 mg/L)
- ✓ Basic Metabolic Panel (Serum Potassium + eGFR 2–4 weeks after starting Lisinopril/Losartan)
Bring your physical home upper-arm BP cuff to the clinic to validate calibration, along with a 7-day written morning/evening seated average.
Unexplained Fatigue, Restless Legs or Hair Shedding with "Normal" Ferritin (15–35 ng/mL)
"Even though my hemoglobin is normal, my Serum Ferritin is [X] ng/mL and I am experiencing persistent fatigue and hair shedding. Can we check a fasting Iron Panel with Transferrin Saturation (TSAT), rule out celiac/GI malabsorption, and target a Ferritin above 50–75 ng/mL?"
Confirms the hematology clinic can administer IV iron when oral iron fails or causes GI distress.
Tracks mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and early reticulocyte hemoglobin response.
- ✓ Serum Ferritin + Fasting Serum Iron + TIBC + Transferrin Saturation (TSAT %)
- ✓ Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Content (CHr) + Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- ✓ Vitamin B12 + Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) + Folate + Tissue Transglutaminase IgA (Celiac screen)
Stop oral iron supplements for 24 hours before drawing a fasting morning Serum Iron and TSAT panel so circulating pill iron does not skew saturation.
Chronic Acid Reflux (GERD), IBS Bloating, Iron Loss or Screening Colonoscopy
"I have had [reflux / bloating / unexplained low ferritin] for [X] months. Today I want to distinguish upper GI mucosal issues from functional motility, review a step-down plan so I am not stuck on a PPI indefinitely, and verify whether you perform diagnostic EGD (CPT 43239) or colonoscopy (CPT 45385) at an ambulatory center."
High annual CPT 45385 volume (>300/yr) correlates with higher adenoma detection rates and safer polypectomy.
Rules out Barrett esophagus, H. pylori gastritis, and duodenal celiac villous atrophy.
- ✓ H. pylori Stool Antigen or Urea Breath Test (must be off PPIs for 14 days prior)
- ✓ Fecal Calprotectin + Fecal Occult Blood (distinguishes IBD inflammation from IBS)
- ✓ Celiac Serology (tTG-IgA + Total Serum IgA while still eating gluten)
Always request an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) facility quote rather than a hospital outpatient department (HOPD) for endoscopy/colonoscopy to save $1,200–$2,400 in facility fees.
What Real Patients Praise vs. Watch Out For
- **Thorough, unhurried communication:** Patients repeatedly say he takes time to talk, listens, answers questions and explains conditions clearly, and that they 'weren't rushed.'
- **Exceptional procedural volume and experience:** About 4,903 annual procedures and 2,707 Medicare patients per year put him in the 91.67th state percentile, backed by 47 years in practice.
- **Confidence-inspiring bedside manner:** Reviewers describe him as caring, comforting and detail-oriented, which helps patients facing high-stakes cardiac decisions feel reassured.
- High-volume practice: book new-patient and follow-up visits well in advance, ask to join a cancellation list, and arrive early at 22 S Greene St, where parking and hospital check-in can take extra time.
- Before your first visit, confirm your insurance and referral requirements, and bring recent ECGs, echocardiograms, stress tests, cath reports, imaging and a full medication list so the visit can focus on decisions.
“Emergency was handled quickly and effectively. They made sure my son was out of pain and scheduled for surgery long before they even asked about insurance. The hospital was very clean and the nurses were charming and helpful. Special thanks to the doctors, especially the ER doctor.”
“Dr. Stafford is my cardiologist. He’s a great doctor with a no BS attitude towards your health. He’s a great listener and drills down to make sure he understands your situation. When I met him in 2010 after I had a heart attack, he was always there with answers and a plan to get me back to my life. Even though I live ”
“This place is the worst they charge you just $8 for your parking and I only was there for 1 hour. Also, they had me waiting for five hours. But then when I tried to visit my loved one they said I could not.”
“I've only good experiences here at this hospital.”
What Procedures & Visits Does Dr. Stafford Actually Perform Most?
Instead of relying on self-reported marketing checklists, dotMD audits the actual CPT and HCPCS procedure codes billed by Dr. Stafford to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)—translating each billing code into what happens in the exam room:
What This Doctor Actually Performs: CMS Medicare Utilization & Baltimore Percentiles
NPI #1760445886 • CBSA Regional • Interventional Cardiology
Top Billed HCPCS/CPT Procedures (CMS Medicare Part B)
| HCPCS | Clinical Procedure Description | Annual Volume | Local Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99214 | Moderate-to-High Complexity Internal Medicine Follow-Up | 2,206 | 90.91th |
| 99213 | Established Preventive & Chronic Care Visit | 1,275 | 91.91th |
| 93000 | In-Office 12-Lead Resting Electrocardiogram | 637 | 86.91th |
| G0439 | Annual Preventive Wellness & Cardiometabolic Risk Assessment | 490 | 90.91th |
| 99204 | Comprehensive New Patient Internal Medicine Diagnostic Visit | 294 | 88.91th |
Granular CPT/HCPCS billing distribution at 22 S Greene St shows Dr. James Stafford's primary concentration in Moderate-to-High Complexity Internal Medicine Follow-Up (code 99214: 2206x/yr, 90.91th local percentile) alongside Established Preventive & Chronic Care Visit (99213: 1275x/yr, $35–$50).
Trained at University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine (CMS DAC Verified) (Class of 2009), Dr. James Stafford, MD (NPI #1760445886) practices Interventional Cardiology in Baltimore, MD (21201) with sub-specialty concentration in 16 Active CMS HCPCS Codes, recording 4,903 annual CMS services across 2,707 distinct beneficiaries—placing this practice as a top-decile high-throughput specialist (90.91th percentile in Baltimore) (+1.74σ vs MD state mean, 91.67th statewide percentile).
Top 10% Interventional Cardiology volume leader in Baltimore, MD
4,903 annual services across 2,707 beneficiaries
Standard deviations from MD Interventional Cardiology mean utilization
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Dr. James Stafford, MD Federal CMS & NPPES Verification
| Metric | Verified Benchmark | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Stafford National Provider Identifier | NPI #1760445886 (MD) | CMS NPPES Registry (21201) |
| Dr. Stafford Baltimore CMS Volume Rank | 90.91th Pct (4,903 CMS svcs; Z +1.741σ) | CMS Medicare Part B (MD Interventional Cardiology) |
| Annual Medicare Patients Treated | 2,707 unique Medicare beneficiaries/yr | CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners (MD) |
| Statewide Specialty Volume Percentile | 91.67th Percentile in MD | CMS MD Interventional Cardiology Peer Distribution |
Conditions, Medications & Diagnostic Workups Managed at This Practice
Primary Conditions & Diagnostic Workups
Plain-English diagnostic cutoffs, 3-zone lab translators, and evidence-graded treatment roadmaps for conditions commonly evaluated in Interventional Cardiology.
Prescriptions, Dosing Rules & Wholesale Prices
Compare real pharmacy acquisition invoices (CMS NADAC) against retail cash prices, meal-timing rules, and organ safety thresholds.
Breakthrough Trials & Supplement Stoichiometry
Audit clinical trial Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR & NNT) and TrueDose™ elemental supplement label math before your visit.
22 S Greene St, Baltimore, MD 21201
NPI #1760445886 • Active Medicare Part B & Commercial PPO Specialist • Confirm your plan tier and any annual administrative fee when booking.
The Top 6 Questions Patients Ask About Dr. James Stafford, MD—Answered in Plain English
Sequenced by what you need most before booking: (1) Conditions & In-Office Procedures, (2) Medicare, Insurance & Upfront Billing Rules, (3) Day-1 Lab Checklist, Parking & Wait Times, and (4) Credentials, Hospital Affiliations & Local Peer Benchmarks.
What is Dr. Stafford's clinical practice focus and patient volume in Baltimore, MD?
Federal CMS Medicare Part B records show Dr. Stafford treats 2,707 unique Medicare beneficiaries and performs 4,903 clinical services per year—ranking in the 92th percentile across MD [1][2].
Annual CMS Part B utilization data tracks every office consultation (CPT 99204/99214), diagnostic evaluation, and therapeutic procedure billed for Medicare beneficiaries at 22 S Greene St, Baltimore, MD 21201. Maintaining a 92th-percentile statewide volume means Dr. Stafford's clinic manages high-complexity Interventional Cardiology cases every week rather than occasional referrals [1][2].
Call the clinic front desk ahead of your visit to confirm whether specific diagnostic procedures are performed in-office or referred to an affiliated hospital center.
Does Dr. Stafford accept Original Medicare Part B assignment and major commercial PPO plans?
Dr. Stafford is registered in the federal CMS NPPES & PECOS system under NPI #1760445886 in Baltimore, MD, actively treating 2,707 Medicare Part B beneficiaries per year [1][2].
Original Medicare Part B covers 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for participating Interventional Cardiology specialist visits (CPT 99204/99214) after your annual Part B deductible is met, with Medigap supplemental policies typically covering the remaining 20% coinsurance [2].
Before your appointment at 22 S Greene St, confirm that your specific commercial PPO/HMO plan tier or Medicare Advantage network is active with the practice billing tax ID, or ask the billing desk for their direct prompt-pay rate and an itemized CPT 99204 superbill [1][2].
Give the reception desk Dr. Stafford's 10-digit NPI (#1760445886) when calling your insurer's Member Services line to verify in-network tier status in 60 seconds.
How did Dr. James Stafford, MD earn a 4.7 ★ GreatDoc™ Rating (93/100)?
The Proprietary DotMD™ J3 Model rates Dr. Stafford 4.7★ because his thin Google profile (3.7★ from only 7 reviews) is outweighed by 4.9/5 across 341 UMMS ratings and 5.0 scores on WebMD, Healthgrades and Vitals, plus very high CMS volume (91.67th state percentile, 2,707 Medicare beneficiaries/yr, 4,903 procedures). His 47 years of experience and subspecialty depth in interventional cardiology, pulmonary hypertension and heart attack care support a GreatDoc™™ Rating, though the small Google sample was weighted cautiously.
The Proprietary DotMD™ J3 Model evaluates practicing U.S. specialists across three independent, non-sponsored pillars: 45% public Google review sentiment (3.7 ★ across 7 reviews), 35% federal CMS Medicare Part B procedure volume (92th percentile in MD), and 20% bedside communication and credential longevity [1][2][3].
Unlike commercial physician directories where doctors can pay for "Featured" placement, every GreatDoc™ Score on dotMD is calculated directly from federal CMS utilization records (NPI #1760445886) and verified patient feedback.
Always check both a specialist's patient review sentiment and their annual CMS procedure volume so you know they actively manage your condition every week.
What lab results, imaging records, and questions should I bring to my first appointment with Dr. Stafford?
Bring your last 12 months of sequential blood work (not just a single summary page), prior diagnostic imaging or procedure reports on PDF, and a list of your exact current medications and supplements with doses [3][4].
Because a new-patient Interventional Cardiology consultation (CPT 99204/99205) focuses on longitudinal trends rather than isolated snapshots, having 2–3 prior lab panels side-by-side prevents duplicate blood draws and allows Dr. Stafford to establish a treatment plan on Day 1.
Write down your top 3 symptom priorities in chronological order (when the symptom started, what makes it better or worse, and which medications you have already tried) and hand that sheet to the nurse during rooming so your 15-minute window stays focused.
Take clear smartphone photos of the front and back Supplement Facts panels of every vitamin you take—hidden ingredients like high-dose biotin can skew immunoassay lab tests.
How can I avoid overpaying at the pharmacy when Dr. Stafford prescribes a new medication?
Before leaving the exam room at 22 S Greene St, ask Dr. Stafford whether a generic first-line option exists and check its federal CMS NADAC wholesale acquisition cost on dotMD [4].
Retail chain pharmacies routinely mark up 3-cent generic maintenance tablets (such as blood pressure, cholesterol, or acid-reflux medications) to $40–$60 cash per month. Asking Dr. Stafford to send 90-day generic maintenance prescriptions to transparent cost-plus pharmacies or checking your insurer's Tier 1 preferred list prevents pharmacy counter sticker shock [4].
If a brand-name therapy requires Prior Authorization (PA), ask the clinic's medical assistant which step-therapy labs or prior generic trials must be documented in the chart note before you leave.
Where is Dr. Stafford's office located in Baltimore, and how should I plan arrival and follow-up?
Dr. Stafford practices at 22 S Greene St, Baltimore, MD 21201. Arrive 15 minutes early for new-patient intake and insurance verification [1].
Before leaving the checkout desk, confirm two logistics: (1) whether follow-up lab orders should be drawn fasting in the morning, and (2) whether Dr. Stafford reviews incoming lab results via the patient portal or requires a scheduled follow-up visit (CPT 99213/99214).
Save the clinic phone number in your phone contacts and confirm the exact suite number and parking instructions when the office calls to confirm your appointment.
Compare Peer Interventional Cardiology Doctors in Baltimore
Verified Primary Registries • CMS NPPES, Medicare Part B & Clinical Guidelines
Federal Physician Records & Clinical Sources ([1]–[4])
Toggle Sources ▾
Federal Physician Records & Clinical Sources ([1]–[4])
Verifies active Type 1 Individual NPI #1760445886, primary taxonomy (Interventional Cardiology), and practice location at 22 S Greene St, Baltimore, MD 21201.
Primary federal claims ledger recording 2,707 annual Medicare beneficiaries and 4,903 billed HCPCS/CPT services (91.67th MD percentile).
Confirms federal Medicare Part B participation status and E&M consultation billing standards (CPT 99204/99214).
Federal wholesale pharmacy acquisition benchmark used to audit generic vs. brand prescription costs ordered during specialist consultations.
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Have You Seen Dr. Stafford? Share Your Experience or Ask a Question
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