Primary Care Provider Responsibilities. A primary care provider (PCP) is a licensed or certified health care practitioner, including a doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, advanced practice registered nurse (including a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife and clinical specialist), physician assistant, or clinic (including a FQHC, primary care center and rural health clinic), that functions within the scope of licensure or certification, has admitting privileges at a hospital or a formal referral agreement with a provider possessing admitting privileges, and agrees to provide twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days a week primary health care services to individuals. Primary care physician residents may function as PCPs. The PCP shall serve as the member's initial and most important point of contact with the Contractor. This role requires a responsibility to both the Contractor and the Member. Although PCPs are given this responsibility, the Contractors shall retain the ultimate responsibility for monitoring PCP actions to ensure they comply with the Contractor and Department policies. Specialty providers may serve as PCPs under certain circumstances, depending on the Member’s needs. The decision to utilize a specialist as the PCP shall be based on agreement among the Member or family, the specialist, and the Contractor’s medical director. The Member has the right to Appeal such a decision in the formal Appeals process. The Contractor shall monitor PCP’s actions to ensure he/she complies with the Contractor’s and Department’s policies including but not limited to the following:
