Which term describes the gatekeeper model in primary care?

Which term describes the gatekeeper model in primary care?

• A. Primary Care Gatekeeper
• B. POS Plan
• C. Indemnity Plan
• D. PPO

Answer: (A)

Gatekeeping in primary care means the primary care physician coordinates all care and must authorize referrals to specialists, helping control costs and ensure appropriate use of services. The term that best describes this arrangement is Primary Care Gatekeeper. The other options refer to plan types rather than the gatekeeping role: an indemnity plan is traditional fee-for-service with no formal gatekeeper; a PPO allows more direct access to specialists with less emphasis on referral requirements; a POS plan blends HMO and PPO features and often includes referrals but doesn’t specifically name the gatekeeper role.

Gatekeeping in primary care means the primary care physician coordinates all care and must authorize referrals to specialists, helping control costs and ensure appropriate use of services. The term that best describes this arrangement is Primary Care Gatekeeper. The other options refer to plan types rather than the gatekeeping role: an indemnity plan is traditional fee-for-service with no formal gatekeeper; a PPO allows more direct access to specialists with less emphasis on referral requirements; a POS plan blends HMO and PPO features and often includes referrals but doesn’t specifically name the gatekeeper role.