My PCP seems to have no problem referring me to specialists in his own practice. I thought that self-referrals were illeagle. Has the law Changed? I’m in New York.
Here’s something regarding medicare, but that might not apply to you. I’ve also heard of the Stark anti-self-referral law, but I can’t find any info on it. Wish I could help more, but I’ll be watching this thread for the answer.
Are these physicians all within the same LLPC?
They do not have a direct financial interest in each other, only in the overall success of the group.
Pardon my ignorance, but what’s PCP? Is this is an initalizing of primary care physician, who are generally internists or family practice doctors?
There’s nothing illegal about one doctor referring a patient to another doctor, in the same specialty or not, so long as no pecuniary interest is involved. The general practice if any names are to be given is to give three names, and the patient can pick one of them or none of them.
It’s a pretty common practice. Imagine you, or a loved one, went to a hospital-based Women’s Clinic, staffed by house officers, and they suspected an uncommon problem -let’s say a craniorectal inversion. Would you expect them to make a call and send you down the hall to their Craniorectal Clinic, or would you say that ethics demands that they call a hospital across town and schedule you for the first available slot (maybe a few weeks later). Suppose it was the ER, instead of a clinic? After all, all the house officers are employees of the same hospital - basically one big practice.
However, I do appreciate your concern. Do you have a specific reason or intuition for not wanting an in-practice referral, or did you simply feel it was illegal?
Don’t discount your instincts. Whether they’re right or wrong, trust and confidence in your physician are very important. Try asking for a list of other choices.
The last part of his post is all friendly, but he did accuse you of having your head up your ass. What’s that all about? Seemed like a valid question to me.
<<<-let’s say a craniorectal inversion.>>>
About 8 years ago, when I was working on a software system for physicians, someone told me that a referral to the same practice is not allowed. As I remember the reasoning, a physician is supposed look after the patients interest when they make a referral. If they can refer to their own practice, their own financial intrest becomes a factor.
Last year, I was in bicycle accident. My PCP referred me to a doctor in his practice who, in my nonprofessional opinion was awful. When I called my PCP later that I was still having problems, he referred me to another doctor, not in his practice, who did a much more thorough exam, and gave me much better advice on how to get back to health.
Today I called for another referral about an unrelated problem. Once again the selection was two physicians in his practice. It irks me. However, I was able to get an appointment with the first one I called tomorrow so I’m not too displeased. But if it turns out that this guy is another lemon I will be real unhappy.
barbitu8, PCP is short for primary care physician and in this case there is a pecuniary interest because they are part of the same practice.
I didn’t mean to accuse anyone of anything, and I hope I caused no offense.
It was an attempt at humor. This has been one of my standard “funny diseases” since I was a small child (I think I heard it on the Mike Douglas Show) It has the advantage of being obviously impossible. So many ‘funny conditions’ I used to joke about turned out to be “too close to the mark” for some people