In an HMO, PCP stands for what?

• A. A hospital administrator
• B. A dental specialist
• C. A pharmaceutical liaison
• D. A Primary Care Physician

Answer: (D)

In an HMO, care is organized through a specific network and you typically select a Primary Care Physician who serves as the entry point for most services. The Primary Care Physician provides routine and preventive care, manages your overall health, and reviews and coordinates any referrals to specialists or hospitals. This gatekeeper role helps ensure you receive appropriate care while keeping costs in check within the plan.

So, Primary Care Physician is the term that best describes the PCP in an HMO. The other options don’t fit because they refer to roles outside the typical clinical gatekeeper function: a hospital administrator is not a clinician who provides medical care; a dental specialist handles dental care, not general medical care; a pharmaceutical liaison is involved with medications, not providing primary medical care.