---
title: "Check a specialist referral before the attendance is billed"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/health-and-medical-law/check-a-specialist-referral-before-the-attendance-is-billed"
type: "task"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A32-NE20261022-12"
practice_area: "Health & Medical Law"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# Check a specialist referral before the attendance is billed

> From the referral and the attendance record, mark whether it has the clinical information, the date and the referrer's signature, whether it names a specialist, when the specialist first saw the patient, whether the…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/health-and-medical-law/check-a-specialist-referral-before-the-attendance-is-billed  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Health & Medical Law](https://ailawframework.com/practice/health-and-medical-law.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | From the referral and the attendance record, mark whether it has the clinical information, the date and the referrer's signature, whether it names a specialist, when the specialist first saw the patient, whether the stated period has ended, whether the attendance is an initial or a subsequent item, and whether a lost referral is being used for more than one attendance. |
| What the lawyer must review | The lawyer decides whether the attendance can be billed on this referral, and which item type the record supports. |
| Written for / versions | 1 jurisdiction versions below |

## Checking plan

**Specialist referral before billing**

Check the referral contents, the period and whether the attendance is an initial or a subsequent item.

- What the AI does: From the referral and the attendance record, mark whether it has the clinical information, the date and the referrer's signature, whether it names a specialist, when the specialist first saw the patient, whether the stated period has ended, whether the attendance is an initial or a subsequent item, and whether a lost referral is being used for more than one attendance.
- What the lawyer does: The lawyer decides whether the attendance can be billed on this referral, and which item type the record supports.
- Who reviews: Responsible lawyer with competence in the matter
- Basis: Practical workflow informed by the linked primary sources; the traffic light and working checks are editorial guidance, not a court classification.
- Why: The level reflects what the work is, the consequence of an error, and how much of the output the lawyer must independently re-derive.

## Checks the lawyer makes

1. Confirm the referral has the clinical information, the date and the referrer's signature.
2. Run a GP period from the specialist's first meeting, for 12 months unless the referral says otherwise.
3. Bill an initial item only where the referrer has asked for review, the last referral has expired, and the patient was last seen more than nine months earlier.
4. Treat a lost written referral as valid for one attendance, and do not bill a later attendance until there is a valid referral.

## Notes

- These are suggested working checks. Confirm the required checking with the responsible lawyer before work starts; the checking approach does not establish permission to use AI.

## Sources

- [Services Australia: referrals for specialist treatment](https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/referrals-for-specialist-treatment?context=20) (checked 2026-10-22)

## Jurisdiction versions

| Jurisdiction | Level |
| --- | --- |
| [United States](https://ailawframework.com/practice/health-and-medical-law/check-a-specialist-referral-before-the-attendance-is-billed/united-states.md) | Yellow |

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*