Question:
I have been told that many Physicians and Surgeons can do their referrals online now?

Is this true, and if so, do you know the web site? thanks, [email protected]    — Jackiis (posted on May 31, 2003)

May 31, 2003
As a medical transcriptionist, I have yet to hear of this. It would seem to me, especially with the latest from HIPPA (everyone in the country getting new private rules from each care provider that started about 2 months ago) that this would be unlikely except from within a large medical group itself. Although some providers are going to "electronic medical records", providers outside of your PCP's office will still have to rely on plain old paper.
   — bethybb

June 1, 2003
What kind of referrals are you referring to? Are you talking about getting an insurance referral from your PCP in order to see a specialist (not a letter of referral, but the authorization to see a specialist for so many visits)?? If that is the type of referral that you are talking about, Aetna-US Healthcare has electronic referrals - but they are not online. The PCP has a specialized computer that they enter the information into the Aetna database that the specialist/hospital can pull off using their own specialized computer and print the referral. But there is no web site involved. As the previous poster said, the HIPPA regulations are quite strict on electronic transmittal of patient information and requirement for encryption of that transmitted information...JR
   — John Rushton

June 1, 2003
Actually, yes, this is now an option. The physician office has to be set up to do this. Many offices are now online, but many aren't. We have a really slow internet provider, so we don't use that option. Aetna, BCBS, United Healthcare are ones that I can think of off the top of my head. This does not mean that precerts for WLS can be done online, however. All insurances that I work with still require paper - and lots of it - like medical records, etc. In fact, I am not aware of any insurances that will precert for this over the phone, either.
   — Liz R.