Quote:
Originally Posted by biker1
Any concern about requiring or not requiring a referral is a bit of a mystery to me. The only provider I directly make appointments with is my PCP (annual visits to the dermatologist notwithstanding). If I have an issue, I talk it over with her and she provides the referral to a specialist. I look upon her as the conductor of my health care. Now, there can be issues of which provider is referred. I have Medicare with a Supplemental Plan so she can refer me to anyone who accepts Medicare but I am not trying to schedule visits to anyone without talking to her first.
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Well, that's an easy one to answer. I didn't need to ask my PCP's permission (or route him $300 of my insurer's money) when I needed to see a urologist for a prostate problem that I knew the PCP could do nothing about. Heck, my PCP refuses to even do prostate exams, or for that matter, the skin cancer screening that I've had to pay a dermatologist for every year since I moved to Florida. Would you waste time scheduling your PCP if you suddenly noticed a mole turn threatening, if you didn't have to? I wouldn't.
Two years, ago, I was due for my 5 year treadmill stress test, that my Texas doctor used to do in his office, as part of my physical, when it was due. Here, I had to pay a cardiologist. So I certainly would not waste time talking to my primary if I thought I actually had a heart problem. And I certainly didn't waste time consulting my PCP before I saw a podiatrist for my plantar faciistus last year.
Referrals are generally a complete waste of time and money, but if I want one, I'm free to get one with my PPO. It's just my call instead of the doctor.