REFERRALS
Robert C. Byrd Clinic is committed to providing our patients with high quality, comprehensive health care. When necessary, your provider may refer you to a specialist for further evaluation and/or treatment. This information will help you understand the referral process and associated timelines.
Why do referrals matter? Referrals help reduce care gaps and improve patient outcomes. Additional testing is often a necessary part of a patient evaluation. Referrals are commonly made to help determine a diagnosis, develop a care plan and/or outline treatment options.
How do referrals work with your health insurance? If you have health insurance, Robert C. Byrd Clinic will make every effort to refer you to an in-network facility or provider. A referral specialist will work with your insurance to obtain any prior authorizations that may be required before you are scheduled. Please note that many insurance carriers do not cover treatment by out of state providers. Staff will notify you if this occurs.
How long does it take to get an appointment after a referral? It depends. Our referral specialists will work diligently to quickly process your referral. Most routine referrals (i.e. mammograms, ultrasounds, physical therapy, etc.) are made within 5-7 business days. Once your referral has been made, you will be scheduled for your appointment. If your insurance company requires a prior authorization, it may take up to three weeks to obtain approval and get an appointment scheduled. Once your appointment is scheduled, a referrals specialist will contact you. If your appointment date is greater than 10 days out, a letter will be mailed to your home. Depending on the type of referral, appointments with certain specialties such as cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, and rheumatology can be scheduled out several months. Stat or urgent referrals for imaging studies are usually scheduled within a few days.
If you have questions, please contact the Referral Department at 304-645-3220 ext. 1709