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Originally Posted by elchivito
It's the same here. NP's can order all meds, tests and referrals. There is functionally no difference. The same thing is true of what are called Physician's Assistants, although they can't go into private practice and must report to a supervising MD or DO. I saw a PA for a while as I was on a waiting list to get in with the internist I see now, and she did a great job. She diagnosed a bone spur in my foot that 3 different MD's had failed to see in spite of my repeated complaints.
MD's around here are so swamped that they take on PAs or NPs who end up seeing the bulk of their patients first. Kind of an ongoing triage.
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I'm curious. Where are you at? Over here a PA has to have a supervisory relationship while an NP has a collaborative relationship. While researching the viabiality of opening a clinic, we found that there are a few PAs that have opened their own clinic. Was curious as to how they managed it.
I think that is a billing issue. NPs cost less but they bill under an MD so they use them as extenders. Same fee, less cost.