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Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD

Accepting New Patients

(102 Ratings)

Specializes in: Adult Pulmonology and Adult Critical Care

Professional interests include: insomnia, cystic fibrosis (CF), chronic bronchitis, and more.

4502 Medical Drive
San Antonio, TX 78229

(210) 358-4000

Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD is a pulmonologist in San Antonio, TX specializing in adult pulmonology and adult critical care. Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD is affiliated with University Health and UT Health San Antonio.

Office Locations

Address:

4502 Medical Drive
San Antonio, TX 78229

Address:

8300 Floyd Curl Drive 4th Floor
San Antonio, TX 78229

Address:

8435 Wurzbach Road
San Antonio, TX 78229

Address:

903 W. Martin Street
San Antonio, TX 78207

Some issues Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD can help you with:

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung disease where the tissue and airways of the lungs become extremely sensitive to certain substances. When these substances are breathed in, the lungs become inflamed. The muscles around the airways tighten and squeeze the lungs, and passages within the lungs swell and tighten. The airways themselves produce mucus, which further clogs the tightened, swollen airways. A person having an asthma attack finds it very difficult to breathe, and a severe attack can even be fatal.

Asthma affects people of all ages, but people with asthma are most often diagnosed as children. Symptoms can include wheezing, a tight feeling in the chest, shortness of breath, and coughing. Some people have mild symptoms all the time, and some people have no symptoms at all, but everyone with asthma is susceptible to occasional severe attacks or flare-ups of symptoms when they are exposed to triggers. Triggers vary widely but can include:

Allergens (dust mites, pet fur, mold, pollen, grass)
Irritants (smoke, pollution, dust, chemicals)
Viral infections
Physical activity, especially outdoors
Certain medications or chemicals in foods (aspirin, sulfites)

Treatment for most asthma patients involves three steps. Patients learn what their asthma triggers are and avoid them. They take a daily control medication, usually an inhaled corticosteroid, to reduce inflammation in the lungs. Also, they have rescue medication with them at all times to take in case of a severe attack. These quick-acting inhaled medications relax the muscles around the airways and allow the lungs to open up for air.

There is no cure for asthma, but with treatment it should not interfere with daily life and activities.

Lung Issues

Every cell in the body requires oxygen to function and produces carbon dioxide as a waste product. In order to keep the body's tissues constantly supplied with fresh oxygen and to keep waste from building up, the lungs pump air in and out, even while sleeping or unaware. Unfortunately, diseases and disorders affecting the lungs are some of the most common medical problems afflicting people around the world. Some of the most common lung problems include asthma, COPD, pneumonia, and lung cancer.

Asthma is a chronic disease where swollen, inflamed airways make it hard to breathe. It is often brought on by specific triggers. While asthma is a common condition, affecting millions of people, it can also be serious and even fatal in severe cases. Treatment involves avoiding triggers and using inhaled corticosteroid medications.

COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is the name given to two illnesses that both cause difficulty breathing: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In emphysema, the air sacs of the lungs become damaged, while with bronchitis they become clogged with mucus. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. It is almost always caused by breathing irritants into the lungs, such as smoking or heavy pollution.

Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by bacteria, a virus, or fungi. Most healthy people recover from pneumonia in a week or two, but for some people pneumonia can be fatal. There are treatments available for pneumonia, but the best treatment is to prevent getting sick in the first place. People who are at risk should make sure they get a flu shot every year. There is also a vaccine available for the type of bacteria that causes pneumonia.

Lung cancer occurs when abnormal cells inside the lung grow into a tumor, destroying healthy tissue. Because it is so difficult to detect lung cancer in early stages when it has few symptoms, it is the deadliest form of cancer, responsible for the most cancer deaths both in the U.S. and worldwide. Most lung cancer is caused by exposure to tobacco smoke, but between 10-15% of cases are not linked to smoking.

Some problems with the lungs are minor and are not cause for concern. However if symptoms have lasted for a month or more, even if they are minor, it is worth checking with a healthcare professional. A cough, shortness of breath, or excess mucus production that lingers for weeks are all worth getting looked at.

doctor visit	145

**Gender**
Male	62
Female	95

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	47
Black	0
Hispanic	89
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	58
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	72

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	46
Depression	42
Chronic Kidney Disease	52
Asthma	57
Osteoperosis	18
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	29
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	53
Diabetes	50
Dementia	9
Cancer	9

**Gender**
Male	130
Female	166

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	104
Black	0
Hispanic	148
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	128
From 75 to 84	31
85 and over	11
Less than 65	126

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	49
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	59
Asthma	17
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	35
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	48
Diabetes	52
Dementia	13
Cancer	8

doctor visit	316
hospital care	35
inpatient care	35

**Gender**
Male	98
Female	138

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	79
Black	0
Hispanic	130
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	93
From 75 to 84	35
85 and over	11
Less than 65	97

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	67
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	54
Depression	41
Chronic Kidney Disease	60
Asthma	23
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	40
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	50
Diabetes	58
Dementia	14
Cancer	10

doctor visit	257
hospital care	60
inpatient care	60
pulmonary testing	70

**Gender**
Male	125
Female	165

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	123
Black	0
Hispanic	139
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	114
From 75 to 84	51
85 and over	12
Less than 65	113

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	53
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	58
Asthma	21
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	43
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	44
Diabetes	52
Dementia	12
Cancer	12

doctor visit	127
hospital care	47
inpatient care	47
pulmonary testing	103

**Gender**
Male	78
Female	112

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	118
Black	0
Hispanic	59
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	94
From 75 to 84	47
85 and over	16
Less than 65	33

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	53
Depression	42
Chronic Kidney Disease	51
Asthma	21
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	42
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	47
Diabetes	43
Dementia	22
Cancer	26

doctor visit	314
hospital care	88
inpatient care	88
pulmonary testing	254

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2016 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD treated as a pulmonologist in San Antonio, TX were pulmonary testing, hospital care, inpatient care and bronchoscopy.

bronchoscopy	29
doctor visit	269
hospital care	57
inpatient care	57
minimally invasive procedures	12
pulmonary testing	142

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2016 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD.

**Gender**
Female	67
Male	49

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	47
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	56
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	5
75 to 84	16
Less than 65	44
65 to 74	48

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD From 2016 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and diabetes.

Hypertension	37
High Cholesterol	30
Stroke	2
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	13
Osteoporosis	6
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	25
Atrial Fibrillation	5
Dementia	7
Cancer	6

Education & Training

She completed residency at University of Texas Affiliated Hospitals. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine/Critical Care and has a state license in Texas.

Residency: University of Texas Affiliated Hospitals (2012)

Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine/Critical Care

Licensed In: Texas

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

University Health

UT Health San Antonio

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Superior Health Plan, BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, Humana PPO, Coventry HMO, WellCare Medicare Advantage, Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), Prime Health, Medicare Advantage, TriWest, MultiPlan, Magellan Health Services, Three Rivers Provider Network PPO, United Healthcare PPO, Coventry PPO, Coventry Workers' Compensation, Humana HMO, Aetna, United Healthcare, Medicaid, Humana, Community Care Network (CCN), Molina Healthcare, TRICARE, HealthSmart, Aetna EPO, First Health, Aetna PPO, WellPoint, Aetna HMO, Oscar - Commercial Exchange, Interlink - Transplant, Point Comfort Underwriters (PCU) - Refugee Medical Assistance, Provider Network of America (PNOA) - Commercial, Insurance Accepted, OptumHealth - Transplant ONLY, Scott & White Health Plan - HMO, Gonzaba Medical Group - Transplant ONLY, Universal Benefits Consortium - Brokerage Firm (School Districts), University of Incarnate Word (Gilsbar) - Direct Employer, Scott & White Health Plan - PPO, Tokio Marine - Transplant, 90 Degree Benefits - Commercial, 6 Degrees - Transplant, LifeTrac - Transplant, Point Comfort Underwriters (PCU) - Unaccompanied Children, Ancira Enterprises - Direct Employer, Velocity National Provider Network - Wrap Network, Independent Medical Systems (IMS) - PPO, Entrust - TPA, EBSO - TPA and Velocity National Provider Network - Commercial PPO.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

Superior Health Plan

BlueCross BlueShield of Texas

Humana PPO

Coventry HMO

WellCare Medicare Advantage

Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)

Prime Health

Medicare Advantage

TriWest

MultiPlan

Magellan Health Services

Three Rivers Provider Network PPO

United Healthcare PPO

Coventry PPO

Coventry Workers' Compensation

Humana HMO

Aetna

United Healthcare

Medicaid

Humana

Community Care Network (CCN)

Molina Healthcare

TRICARE

HealthSmart

Aetna EPO

First Health

Aetna PPO

WellPoint

Aetna HMO

Oscar - Commercial Exchange

Interlink - Transplant

Point Comfort Underwriters (PCU) - Refugee Medical Assistance

Provider Network of America (PNOA) - Commercial

Insurance Accepted

OptumHealth - Transplant ONLY

Scott & White Health Plan - HMO

Gonzaba Medical Group - Transplant ONLY

Universal Benefits Consortium - Brokerage Firm (School Districts)

University of Incarnate Word (Gilsbar) - Direct Employer

Scott & White Health Plan - PPO

Tokio Marine - Transplant

90 Degree Benefits - Commercial

6 Degrees - Transplant

LifeTrac - Transplant

Point Comfort Underwriters (PCU) - Unaccompanied Children

Ancira Enterprises - Direct Employer

Velocity National Provider Network - Wrap Network

Independent Medical Systems (IMS) - PPO

Entrust - TPA

EBSO - TPA

Velocity National Provider Network - Commercial PPO

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Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 102 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in San Antonio, TX.

4.7

Overall Rating

(102 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Maria Ines Velez, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Pinnacle Biologics, Inc	$1,854 Photofrin $1,854
Pulmonx Corporation	$967 Pulmonx Endobronchial Valve EBV $967
Veran Medical Technologies, Inc.	$869 Spin $869
Boston Scientific Corporation	$394 GENERAL - PULMONARY $192	Ultraflex $174	CRE $16	EXPECT $12
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	$331 Da Vinci Surgical System $331
Other	$381 ERBE $77	OFEV $47	Veklury $22	Brovana $22	Hillrom - Life 2000 Ventilation System $22	Other $192

**Types of Payments**
Travel and Lodging	$2,589
Food and Beverage	$1,173
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$1,000
Education	$35

Biography

Dr. Maria Velez works as an adult critical care and adult pulmonology. Her patients gave her an average rating of 4.5 stars (out of 5). Dr. Velez's clinical interests include pneumothorax, pulmonary valve disease, and swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy). She is in-network for several insurance carriers, including Aetna EPO, Blue California, and HealthSmart. Her training includes a residency program at a hospital affiliated with the University of Texas. In addition to English, Dr. Velez speaks Spanish. She is affiliated with the University Health and UT Health San Antonio. Dr. Velez's practice in San Antonio, TX is open to new patients as reported by UT Health San Antonio.