Once you have chosen Community First Health Plans, your next choice is to select who will provide the majority of health care services to you and your qualified dependents. Your primary care physician (PCP) will be the one you call when you need medical advice, when you are sick, and when you need preventive care such as immunizations. Each Member may select his or her own PCP from the Community First Provider Directory. Select a PCP who is a family or general practitioner, internist, or pediatrician.

If you have a chronic, disabling, or life-threatening condition, you may request to use a Specialty Care Provider (SCP) as your PCP. Just call Member Services at (210) 358-6262 or toll-free (877) 698-7032 to make your request. Your request must include information about the medical necessity of your request and be signed by you and your SCP. For your SCP to named as your PCP, he or she must meet all of Community First's requirements for PCPs and be willing to accept the responsibility of coordinating all of your health care needs.

GBP Participants:
You should ask about the contract status of the providers from whom you receive treatment, especially when you are referred by your PCP to a specialty care physician and when you receive services at a participating hospital. Some facility-based physicians or other health care practitioners, such as anesthesiologists, pathologists, and radiologists, may not be included in Community First's network and may balance bill you for amounts not paid by Community First.

Community First Health Plans will provide services in the following Texas counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina, and Wilson. Please see Community First's Provider Directory for a Service Area Map, a listing of zip codes included within the Service Area, and locations for all health care delivery sites.

If you desire to change your PCP, please call the Member Services Department at the phone numbers in the contact directory. A representative will be happy to assist you.