Which entity would be given a referral number?

A referral number is typically assigned to the referring provider—the physician who initiates the patient’s referral to a specialist or another healthcare provider. This number helps track and link the referral within the healthcare management system and ensures that all relevant parties can access the necessary information.

The referred physician is the one who receives the patient based on that referral. By receiving the referral number, the referred physician can verify that the referral is authorized, understand the patient’s insurance coverage, and get access to any existing medical records necessary for the patient’s care. Therefore, the referred physician benefits directly from the referral number assigned, as it plays a crucial role in the communication and authorization process as well as billing for services rendered.

In context, the other entities listed may have different roles. The referring physician initiates the referral, the patient is the subject of the referral, and the health plan is involved for coverage but does not specifically receive a referral number for their use in the same manner as the referred physician does. Thus, the referred physician is correctly identified as the one who would receive the referral number.