NPs, PAs provide a quarter of all medical visits

The proportion of visits delivered by nurse practitioners and physician assistants to Medicare beneficiaries rose from 14% to 25.6% from 2013 to 2019, according to a study. Published in September in BMJ, the study found NPs and PAs conducted 47% of respiratory infection visits and 31% of anxiety disorder visits, but only 13% of eye disorder visits and 20% of hypertension visits. The authors believe NPs and PAs are more likely to provide care for low acuity problems. Patients who were lower income, from rural areas and people with disabilities were more likely to see an NP or PA. The researchers analyzed 276 million visits from a nationally representative sample of Medicare patients. (Newswise release, 9/12/23)