Can primary care doctors drop patients without any notice? i just found out i've been dropped as a patient and the dr. won't explain why. i've never missed payments, have been prompt for appointments, have not had any disagreements w/the dr., etc?

It should not happen without prior notice unless your care will be taken over by another doctor and the current doctor no longer practices. Most of the time, in the latter situation you should also be notified by the doctor himself or his office's personnel. Litigation may happen when doctor terminated the care without prior notice and later patient suffers consequences due to lack of care.

These are sticky questions and obviously you would like an answer. The best you can do is ask. There might be a perfectly simple explanation. The doctor may have changed their policy for which insurance carriers they will service. They may have sold the practice to another doctor who has a different philosophy. There's an obligation to give you notice and time to find alternate care!