Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants: How Expanding Reimbursement and Scopes of Practice Can Facilitate High-Quality, Efficient Healthcare.

Abstract

As the demand for healthcare increases in the United States, nonphysician practitioners such as nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) are being called upon to provide more services in a greater variety of settings. State laws have been amended to broaden the scopes of practice of NPs and PAs. New Medicare programs such as Chronic Care Management and Transitional Care Management are well suited for NPs and PAs. This article discusses these developments, their impact on healthcare delivery and reimbursement, and how medical offices, clinics, and health systems can utilize NPs and PAs to provide excellent healthcare in an efficient manner.