"Primary Care Physician"
Definition: A health insurance term used to describe a physician who is responsible and coordinates all of a patient's care in a managed care system like a preferred provider organization (PPO) or health maintenance organization (HMO). The primary care physician is the primary point of contact with the insured patient and acts as a gatekeeper controlling the insured's access to health care through the insurer. Also Known As: Abbreviation, PCP. Examples: I need to see Dr. Smith, my primary care physician, for a referral to a cardiac specialist.
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