What term describes a physician who sends a patient to another physician?

The term "referring physician" accurately describes a physician who sends a patient to another physician for further evaluation, treatment, or specialty care. This process is often essential in healthcare to ensure patients receive the appropriate level of care, especially when specific expertise is required that the referring physician may not provide.

In the context of medical billing and practice, the referring physician's role is important because it can affect authorization processes, insurance claims, and care coordination. By referring a patient, the physician ensures that the patient's medical needs are met by another qualified provider, and this can ultimately enhance patient outcomes.

In contrast, the other terms involve different functions within the healthcare system. The rendering physician is the one who actually provides medical services to the patient, while the billing provider is responsible for submitting claims to insurance companies for payment. "Pay to provider" does not refer to a type of physician but rather describes a payment arrangement. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in the realm of medical billing and healthcare operations.