Primary Care Provider (PCP)

The health care provider health care provider
Professionals that provide health care services to patients. Health care providers include chiropractors, counselors, dentists, dietitians, doctors, nurses, optometrists, paramedics, pharmacists, physician assistants, psychologists, radiologists, social workers, speech pathologists and therapists, among others.
responsible for managing your overall health, and the one you typically see first. Your primary care provider, or PCP, may be a family practice or internal medicine physician, a nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Your PCP may talk with other doctors and health care providers about your care and refer you to them. Many health plans require you to visit your PCP before you see any other health care provider health care provider
Professionals that provide health care services to patients. Health care providers include chiropractors, counselors, dentists, dietitians, doctors, nurses, optometrists, paramedics, pharmacists, physician assistants, psychologists, radiologists, social workers, speech pathologists and therapists, among others.
. New Hampshire law prohibits providers employed by a hospital or affiliate to be required to refer patients to providers within that same hospital or affiliate.

If you are enrolled in an HMO health insurance plan, you will be required to tell the health insurance company who you have selected to be your PCP. If you do not, you may be randomly assigned to a PCP by your insurance company. Unless you need emergency care, many health plans require you to visit your primary care doctor before seeing another provider. If you do not, you may receive a reduced benefit or no coverage for the services provided.