Act Now: Start Early on Referrals and Annual Wellness Visits
As you know, starting Jan. 1, 2026, Peoples Health HMO-POS plans* require referrals for most specialist visits. Plan members must obtain a referral before accessing certain specialist services in outpatient, office or home settings, and referrals must be submitted by the primary care provider.
Your Peoples Health patients may be calling your office to establish a referral for specialist care; they are not required to visit you in person for a referral. Consider maximizing your opportunity with your patients and schedule their annual wellness visit while you have them on the phone.
We encourage you to establish referrals for ongoing care as early in the year as possible, as well as schedule an annual wellness visit with each patient early in the year. These visits benefit you and your patients by offering insights into overall health and well-being.
For more information about referrals, view the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Referral Guide training and visit uhcprovider.com/referrals.
For more about the benefits of an annual wellness visit, see “Annual Wellness Visits Offer Valuable Clues to Patient Health.”
*Peoples Health PPO plans do not require referrals.
