Hello, everyone: Just a quick comment from a family physician who often has to deal with disgruntled patients who just need to see me in order to get a referral to a specialist. In most cases, family physicians diagnose and treat without any need for a referral, and at significantly lower cost (whether directly to a patient with traditional insurance, or indirectly through reduction of health care costs passed on to the public). In addition, a good family doctor is more likely to be sensitive to family- related issues and other stresses complicating the medical problem. Although I can understand the frustration in the occasional cases where a referral still needs to be made, I believe that most people are best served by seeing their "primary MD". Alicia Dermer, M.D.