Most GP referrals to specialists are valid for 12 months. The easily missed detail is that the period generally starts on the day the specialist first sees the patient, not the day the GP writes the referral.
Three timelines
| Referral | Usual period | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| GP to specialist | 12 months | The referrer may specify a shorter, longer or indefinite period. |
| Specialist to specialist | 3 months | Different rules apply to admitted patients. |
| Continuing chronic care | Longer than 12 months or indefinite | The referrer must consider ongoing care necessary; a new problem can still require a new referral. |
A date example
Your GP writes the letter on 1 March and the specialist first sees you on 20 May. If no different period is written, the 12 months generally begins on 20 May. Ask the practice to confirm rather than calculating from the letter alone.
Four checks before a follow-up
- Is this continuing management of the same condition, or a new issue?
- What first-attendance date does the specialist’s practice have?
- Does the referral specify a particular period or “indefinite”?
- Will it still be valid on the next appointment date?
An expired referral does not necessarily stop the specialist seeing you, but it can change Medicare billing and your cost. Checking several weeks ahead is safer than trying to obtain a letter on the appointment day.
Allied health plans, diagnostic imaging and other referrals can follow different rules. This article concerns specialist medical referrals.
Official sources
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