True or false: Medical directors escalate preauthorization requests to the UM clinician.

In the context of health care management, particularly with preauthorization requests, the role of a medical director typically involves overseeing clinical operations and ensuring compliance with established guidelines. The escalation of preauthorization requests is generally the responsibility of the Utilization Management (UM) clinician, who is specifically trained to assess the clinical necessity and appropriateness of services.

Therefore, the statement that medical directors escalate preauthorization requests to UM clinicians is not accurate, as the protocol usually involves UM clinicians handling such requests directly. Medical directors may be involved in the broader oversight or policy-making regarding utilization management practices, but they do not typically intervene in the individual preauthorization request process.

By understanding the roles and responsibilities of various health care personnel, one can better grasp how preauthorization requests are managed within a health system. This distinction highlights the importance of having the right professionals in charge of specific tasks to streamline processes and enhance patient care delivery.