# Do I need a referral for an MRI, CT scan or mammogram?

*Usually yes, sometimes no, and the reasons are practical rather than bureaucratic. Here is how orders, referrals, and self-requests actually work at an imaging center.*

September 9, 2026 · Desert Imaging

It is the question we hear most on the phone, and it deserves a straight answer: for most imaging exams, yes, you need an order from a licensed provider. For a few screening exams, you may not. Here is why, and how to find out what applies to you before you drive over.

## What an order does

An imaging order is more than permission. It tells us:

- **Which exam to do.** "MRI" is not enough; the order says MRI of the right knee without contrast, or CT of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast. The protocol we run depends on it.
- **Why.** The reason for the exam guides the radiologist's reading. A knee MRI for a sports injury is read with different questions in mind than one for unexplained swelling.
- **Who gets the report.** The ordering provider receives the radiologist's report and is responsible for following up with you.

That last point is the practical heart of it. An exam that nobody is prepared to act on is not much use to you. The order connects the pictures to a person who will explain them and decide what happens next.

## Who can order

Physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants can all order imaging in Texas, and so can chiropractors and dentists within their scope. Your primary care provider, a specialist, an urgent care clinic, or a telehealth provider can all send us an order.

If you do not have a provider, an urgent care or a community clinic is the fastest way to get one, and to get someone on the other end of the report.

## What does not need an order

Some screening exams are designed for people without symptoms, and the rules allow you to request them yourself.

**Screening mammography** is the common one. If you are due for a routine screening and you are not being evaluated for a specific problem, you can request it directly. We still need the name of a provider to receive the report, which can be your primary care doctor or gynecologist.

Other self-requested screenings vary by exam and by what your insurance will cover without an order. Rather than guess, call us at (915) 577-0100 and describe what you want. We will tell you whether you can request it directly, what it costs if your plan will not cover it, and which center offers it.

## Insurance and prior authorization

Even with an order, some plans require prior authorization for MRI, CT, PET/CT, and nuclear medicine exams. Your provider's office usually starts that process when they send the order. If you are calling us before that has happened, we will tell you, so a missing authorization does not surprise you at check-in.

Bring your insurance card and a photo ID. If you would rather pay out of pocket, say so when you book. For an MRI, [how much an MRI costs in El Paso without insurance](/blog/how-much-does-an-mri-cost-in-el-paso-without-insurance) covers what to ask and how to pay.

## How the order gets to us

Any of these work:

1. Your provider's office faxes it to (915) 400-0427 or sends it through the physician portal.
2. You bring the paper order with you.
3. You take a clear photo of it and we confirm the details when you call.

Once we have it, we schedule the exam at a center that offers it, and we tell you how to prepare.

## The short version

If you have symptoms or your doctor wants to look at something, you need an order, and getting it is usually one phone call to your provider. If you are due for a routine screening mammogram, call us directly and we will get you in. Either way, the report lands with a provider who will talk you through it, which is the part that matters.