Marvin Millner wants to reach out to his current clients for referrals. What advice would you give to Marvin?

• A. Immediately contact all clients for referrals without restrictions
• B. Consult with the health plans he represents to determine whether those plans impose requirements around beneficiary referrals
• C. Refer all clients to a third-party referral service
• D. Rely on general advertising without client consent

Answer: (B)

Marketing and referral practices in health insurance must line up with plan-specific rules and federal guidelines. Before reaching out to current clients for referrals, check with the health plans Marvin represents to see if they impose any requirements around beneficiary referrals. Plans may limit how referrals can be solicited, require certain disclosures or consent, or specify approved channels for outreach. Following these requirements helps ensure compliance with plan policies, CMS marketing guidelines, patient privacy rules, and anti-kickback considerations. Jumping ahead with unrestricted outreach, using a third-party referral service without alignment, or advertising without client consent could create compliance problems and erode trust.