Applicable to all states except NC.
The referral process, advance notification process, and prior authorization process are separate processes. All care providers must follow the notification and/or prior authorization requirements when providing a service that requires a notification and/or prior authorization.
A referral does not replace the advance notification or prior authorization process.
Referrals must be submitted by the member’s PCP or by a PCP within the same tax ID number. Specialists can’t enter referrals in our system. They must ask the member’s PCP to enter a referral. Referrals are accepted to network physicians only.
Referrals are effective immediately. They are viewable online within 48 hours.
If you need to refer a member to an out-of-network care provider because there are no available network care providers in the area, request prior authorization by calling Provider Services at 1-877-842-3210. You can also sign into Link by going to UHCprovider.com and clicking on Sign in to Link in the top right corner. Then, select the Prior Authorization and Notification tool tile on your Link dashboard.
The PCP determines the number of visits, up to the allowed max, needed for each referral in a 6-month period. They may submit another referral after the member uses the visits or they expire. Services done under a new referral are established patient visits.