self-refer
verb
self-re·fer
ˌself-ri-ˈfər 
self-referred; self-referring; self-refers
1
: to refer oneself to a health care provider (such as a physician)
students self-referring to mental health professionals
health plans that allow patients to self-refer
2
of a physician
: to refer a patient to a specialized medical facility (such as a medical imaging center) in which the referring physician has a financial interest
Examples of self-refer in a Sentence
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Neale said that patients with preferred provider or exclusive provider organization insurance, which allows beneficiaries to self-refer to any doctor in their network, immediately gain access, while those with health management organization coverage must go through Anthem.
—
Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2025
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Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-refer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-refer. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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