As the #1 choice for Medi-Cal in San Francisco, SFHP is here to help you get the right care for your health needs. Whether you need a routine check-up or a specialist visit, our network of local doctors, clinics, and providers has you covered.
What’s the difference between specialty and routine care? Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Routine care deals with your overall health and well-being. This includes your yearly well-check visits, vaccines (shots), preventive screenings, and more.
- Specialty care can help if you have more complex or chronic (long-term) health needs, like diabetes or heart disease. You might also have a rare sickness or have symptoms that haven’t gone away with routine health care treatments.
What Is a Specialist?
You can visit a specialist to get expert care for a certain health problem. Specialists are surgeons, heart doctors, allergy doctors, skin doctors, and other doctors who work in one area of health care.
Most specialists will ask you for a referral from your primary care provider (PCP)* before you make an appointment.
How to Make an Appointment for Specialty Care
Below are the steps you might need to take to see a specialist.
Your PCP office might have different steps. Reach out to your PCP office for more details on Specialty Referrals.
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Talk to Your PCP
- Visit your PCP to talk about your health needs and ask to see a specialist.
- Your PCP will help you decide which specialist to see. The specialist you see may depend on your health needs, insurance, and when the specialist can see you.
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PCP Sends Referral
- Your PCP will send your referral to the specialist digitally or by letter or fax.
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Specialist Reviews Referral
- Before you can make an appointment, your referral must be reviewed by the specialist.
- The referral allows you to see the specialist.
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Schedule Your Appointment
- Once your referral is reviewed, you will get details on how to make your appointment.
- For specialist care that is not urgent, you should get an appointment within 15 business days.
- If you do not get appointment details for the specialist, talk to your PCP office for help.
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Contact Your PCP
- Your specialist and PCP should work together to give you the best care.
- Call your PCP after seeing the specialist to talk about the next steps in your health care, including any other specialists you may need to see.
If you need help or have questions, please call SFHP Customer Service at 1(415) 547-7800, 1(800) 288-5555 (toll-free), or 711 (TTY), Monday–Friday, 8:00am–5:00pm.
Get Help in Your Language
Some cultures may have many ways of taking care of health needs. Some people use natural remedies while others visit a doctor often. It is okay to feel nervous if going to a doctor is new for you. Your PCP is there to help you!
You can find a PCP who speaks your language by using the SFHP Provider Search Tool.
When you make your appointment, you can also ask to have an interpreter. The interpreter will be with you in person or on the phone during your PCP appointment. Remember, it’s your right to get health care in the language you need. Learn more about getting help in your language with SFHP.
Need a Ride?
With SFHP, you can get transportation to and from covered health visits, like visiting a specialist or picking up a prescription.
SFHP partners with Modivcare to offer both Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) and Non-Medical Transportation (NMT). You can easily request a ride by using the Modivcare App on your phone or by calling Modivcare at 1(855) 251-7098.
Find out more about transportation services with SFHP and request a ride today!
Not an SFHP member yet?
Learn about your health care options and see if you can get Medi-Cal at sfhp.org/qualify.
*Your primary care provider (PCP) is your main doctor or health care provider who helps you stay healthy and handles your care.
