While an order/referral should not be required for women over 40 to schedule a screening mammogram, we still recommend getting one from your primary care provider. Some imaging centers may still require an order/referral to schedule an appointment.
Should there be an abnormal finding, it is important for your radiology provider to be able to communicate results back to your primary care provider immediately so the best line of care can be determined. The order/referral establishes a direct line of communication between the two providers.
Remember that early detection and access to timely care saves lives!