Referrals

To request a referral, please call (703) 573-8604.

As primary care providers, it is our job to determine when our patients need to consult with a specialist. You should always discuss your need for a specialist with your GIMG practitioner prior to requesting a referral to assure proper coordination of care. The providers in this office have specific specialists whom they know and trust to provide excellent care to our patients. If you need the care of a specialist, your provider will select one whom he or she knows and is also in your health plan. Please note that patients are responsible for knowing their insurance plan's referral requirements and specific restrictions.

If your referral is for an urgent medical situation, the referral will be processed immediately. The definition of an urgent situation is one that would cause significant bodily harm if a referral is not processed immediately. All non-urgent referrals are processed and mailed to you within 3-5 business days. Our referral coordinator will contact you if there are any questions or concerns.

Patients are responsible for taking the referral to the specialist. Do not schedule an appointment with a specialist until your referral has been approved and you have received your referral in the mail. Please do not call to check on your referral until processing time has passed.

Some insurance plans require 5-7 days after the request by the provider to give authorization for referrals including nutrition counseling, sleep studies, infertility, hemodialysis, outpatient infusion, hyperbaric oxygen, ongoing referrals involving a case worker, or a non-participating facility.

Please note that GIMG cannot:
• approve retroactive (after the fact) referrals
• immediately respond to request for copies of referrals because the patient has failed to take the referral with them to the specialist appointment
• process referrals immediately simply because the patient has made an appointment too soon after the provider's approval. We do not approve referrals because the patient is already at the specialist's office, unless it meets the criteria of urgent stated above.

There is a $10 replacement fee for lost referrals.