A physician who sends a patient to another doctor for specialty care or services.
If a physician accepts payments from another physician solely for the referral of a patient, both are guilty of healthcare fraud.
The disadvantages are limited choices since you are required to choose a primary care physician. The primary physician must then make referral outside the network and getting the referral for specialists may be difficult.
It is usually governed by state.
As you didn't state where you live, the best advice I can give is to call local area hospitals, which often have Physician Referral lines. If you have a Primary Care Physician, then that would be the first source to go to for a referral.
Many mammography facilities accept "self referral." This means women can schedule themselves without a physician's referral.
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Primary Referral
Primary Referral
Primary Referral
Primary Referral
There are surgeons who perform laser procedures for the feet. It certainly depends on the exact nature of your problem. Go back to the physician who recommended surgery and ask for a referral to an appropriate surgeon. You can also call the largest hospital in your area and ask for the Physician Referral Service for guidance.