Which group of physicians do insurance companies refer to as primary care physicians?

Insurance companies refer to family practitioners and internists as primary care physicians because these healthcare providers are typically the first point of contact for patients seeking medical care. Primary care physicians are responsible for offering a broad range of services, including preventive care, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, and coordination of specialist referrals when specialized care is needed.

Family practitioners provide comprehensive care for individuals of all ages, while internists focus on adult patients, managing common and complex conditions. This emphasis on general health management and patient-centered care is what establishes them as primary care physicians in the healthcare system.

In contrast, the other groups of physicians listed, such as cardiologists, orthopedists, pathologists, physiatrists, gerontologists, and endocrinologists, specialize in specific areas of medicine and typically see patients after they have been referred by primary care providers, thus making them specialists rather than primary care physicians.