primary care physician (PCP)

Physician (e.g., family practitioner, general practitioner, pediatrician, obstetrician/gynecologist, general internist) who sees patients first for most health problems, who oversees the care of patients in a managed health care plan (HMO or PPO), and who refers patients to specialists (e.g., cardiologist, oncologists, surgeons) for services as needed. Also known as a gatekeeper, primary care doctor, or primary care practitioner.

Primary carrier

Health insurance company that pays on a claim as the first carrier before the second insurer pays when a patient has two policies and they are coordinating benefits.
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An original insurer as distinct from a reinsurer.

primary case management (PCM)

Program in which the state contracts directly with primary care providers who agree to be responsible for the provision and/or coordination of medical services to Medicaid recipients under their care. Most primary care case management (PCCM) programs pay the primary care physician a monthly case management fee in addition to reimbursing services on a fee-for-service basis. Also called primary care case management (PCCM).