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3 min readHow referrals work
Who sends the referral, and how do I know it went through?
Answer
A referral is a request from one clinician to another to evaluate or treat a specific problem. Depending on your plan, a referral may also be a coverage requirement.
Referrals commonly stall in transit. Confirm that the receiving office actually has it, rather than waiting for a call.
Key points
- Ask which office is responsible for sending records with the referral.
- Ask how long the specialist's typical wait is, and whether to be added to a cancellation list.
- Prior authorization and referral are different things — you may need both.
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Sources & transparency
- Referral — Glossary(opens in a new tab)
HealthCare.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
Retrieved by Phoenix Jul 10, 2026
- Last reviewed:
- Jul 15, 2026
- Next review due:
- Jan 15, 2027
- Editorial owner:
- Phoenix Health Compass Editorial Team
- Medical reviewer:
- Not yet clinically reviewed
Content version:2.0.0
AI-assisted plain-language editing