Arizona Long Term Care System

ALTCS Primary Care Provider (PCP)

Primary Care Provider (PCP)
A PCP is your doctor. The doctor oversees your medical care and will make referrals to specialists if needed. They will order services such as therapy, medications, durable medical equipment and home health nursing.

You can change your doctor. However, you will need to choose another doctor from your acute health plan’s provider network. You can change your doctor by contacting your acute health plan’s member services. You can also ask the acute health plan’s member services for a list of providers. There is no cost for this list. This information is also available on the acute health plan’s website.

Your acute health plan will let you know if your doctor is no longer in their network. The acute health plan will also let you know if a specialist you see regularly leaves their network. Your acute health plan will help you change your doctor or specialist.

PCP Appointments

• Call your doctor’s office to make an appointment.
• Make your appointments during office hours (so you do not to have to use urgent or emergency care).
• Keep your appointments.
• Go to your appointments on time.
• Call your doctor’s office ahead of time when you cannot keep your appointments.

Referrals
Your doctor is in charge of all your covered health care. Your doctor may have you go to another doctor to get special care. There are times when a referral from your doctor is not needed. They are:

• If you have a medical emergency;
• If you need behavioral health services,
• If you need transportation to a medical appointment,
• Female members have direct access to preventive and well care services from a gynecologist within the acute health plan’s network without a referral from a PCP.

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