Answer:
The first thing to understand is that an HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization, is a very basic level of health insurance that will provide an affiliated person with all healthcare needs but under certain conditions and limitations. Although much less expensive than more buffed insurance plans, like PPO´s, HMO´s have a lot more conditions and limitations for patients, including that their access to physicians, and particularly certain care, and specialists, depends on the network that the HMO has to offer. A person who has an HMO and wishes to attend a specialist, or have a specialized procedure done, outside of the network provided, will require to either pay something that is called out-of-pocket expenses, or, he will be required to receive an exemption by his insurance, depending on the need.
However, what is most common for patients to do, who require to see a specialist, like a podiatrist, like is the case of Harry, and because he evidently needs it, would be to go first to his PCP, or Primary Care Physician, who would then refer him.
