An emergency referral is available for patients requiring immediate treatment. To submit an emergency referral request, please Contact Us by fax or email.

We will respond to an emergency referral request within twenty-four (24) hours from the time the request is received in our offices. If the request for emergency referral is approved, Access will contact the specialty provider to inform him/her of the patient's urgent need for treatment and authorization by Access. The PCD office must forward a written referral request to Access after obtaining verbal approval from the Referral Department.

Access' Referral Department will make decisions on emergency authorizations based on the information provided by the referring provider over the phone or by fax. The accuracy of this information will be verified based on the written referral request submitted by the referring provider. If the written referral request and supporting documentation does not substantiate the need for a referral, Access will charge the cost of the referral services back to the referring provider.

While emergency specialty referrals do not require prior authorization, specialty providers are requested, whenever possible during office hours, to notify Access prior to treating the member. This is done to ensure that the provider understands Access' program and does not provide routine non-emergent dental services for which he or she may not be reimbursed. Dental emergency (emergent) services are defined as those required for alleviation of severe pain, severe swelling, bleeding or immediate diagnosis and treatment of unforeseen dental conditions, which, if not immediately diagnosed and treated, would lead to disability or harm to the member.