Thoughts on charging the same thing for a nurse practitioner as for a doctor...

[OceanAnnie]

Had an office visit recently. Couldn't get an appt. with a dr., got one with a nurse practitioner instead. The co-pay was the same as if I were seeing the doctor. I didn't care for that.

Nothing against a nurse practitioner, but it isn't the same level of care. I think there should be a tier for a co-pay. Thoughts?

ETA- I had a "specialist" co-pay. Fifty bucks.

 

[crz4mm2]

Why do you think it is not the same "level" of care?

 

[OceanAnnie]

Why do you think it is not the same "level" of care?

Well, the doctor specializes in a field and has a longer and wider experience base. The nurse practitioner is not a doctor.

 

[crz4mm2]

Well, the doctor specializes in a field and has a longer and wider experience base. The nurse practitioner is not a doctor.

So you saw a nurse practitioner who did not specialize in that field?

 

[Chesire]

Your co-pay might be the same, but the amount charged to your insurance is probably different. Might check your EOB when it arrives

 

[OceanAnnie]

So you saw a nurse practitioner who did not specialize in that field?

Narrower. Why don't you just say, it wouldn't bother you?

 

[OceanAnnie]

Your co-pay might be the same, but the amount charged to your insurance is probably different. Might check your EOB when it arrives

See, I wonder if that is the case, why am I charged the same co-pay?

 

[DVCLiz]

No, I don't have a problem with that. The nurse practioner is trained well enough to provide the service I am seeking - if he or she weren't I would be seeing the doctor instead.

The co-pay is a small part of the cost of the visit. If I were charged the full rate I would expect to see a difference based on what doctors and nurse practioners charge for their time, but a copay doesn't begin to cover that so I would think it fair to pay the same amount.

 

[crz4mm2]

Narrower. Why don't you just say, it wouldn't bother you?

Nope, not at all. If it would bother me, I would have asked for the doctor.
What didn't the nurse practitioner do that the doctor would have done?

 

[OceanAnnie]

Nope, not at all. If it would bother me, I would have asked for the doctor.

I did! The doctor wasn't available for 2 months. I couldn't wait.

 

[DVCLiz]

See, I wonder if that is the case, why am I charged the same co-pay?

Because a copay is not pro-rated based on the amount charged or the level of expertise of the medical professional - it's a flat fee for the service you receive. It doesn't matter who you saw.

 

[OceanAnnie]

No, I don't have a problem with that. The nurse practioner is trained well enough to provide the service I am seeking - if he or she weren't I would be seeing the doctor instead.

The co-pay is a small part of the cost of the visit. If I were charged the full rate I would expect to see a difference based on what doctors and nurse practioners charge for their time, but a copay doesn't begin to cover that so I would think it fair to pay the same amount.

There wasn't a triage. She was offered to me because of the doctor's lack of availability.

 

[MinnieMe87]

No, I don't have a problem with that. The nurse practioner is trained well enough to provide the service I am seeking - if he or she weren't I would be seeing the doctor instead.

The co-pay is a small part of the cost of the visit. If I were charged the full rate I would expect to see a difference based on what doctors and nurse practioners charge for their time, but a copay doesn't begin to cover that so I would think it fair to pay the same amount.

It would not have bothered me in the least to have seen and NP instead of the doctor. If for some reason I felt they weren't up to standards, I would have waited for the doctor, or made an appointment elsewhere.

 

[crz4mm2]

I did! The doctor wasn't available for 2 months. I couldn't wait.

What didn't she do that the doctor would have done?

 

[OceanAnnie]

Because a copay is not pro-rated based on the amount charged or the level of expertise of the medical professional - it's a flat fee for the service you receive. It doesn't matter who you saw.

Maybe it should be.

 

[OceanAnnie]

What didn't she do that the doctor would have done?

Hypothetical. I'm not going to give details on my office visit.

 

[wdwmom2]

The office I work in has 5 MD's and 1 NP. I would trust the life of my child in her hands just as much as any of the MD's. She is VERY knowledgable!!!! Sometimes the MD's want another practitioner to come the exam room to see a patient for a second opinion on something. They will get the NP just as quickly as one of the other MD's. She has quite a loyal following of patients. The only thing my NP doesn't do that the MD's do is hospital rounds.

And NP's are no different than MD's, some are just "better" than others.

And yes, the copay to see her is the same as the MD's.

 

[AshleyW]

I hate to break it to ya, but nurse practitioners have specialties, too - and there isn't much difference between an NP and an MD. My mom is a nurse practitioner who is board certified for pediatrics. She can write prescriptions and do just about everything a doctor can do. My PCP is a NP, and I've always actually received BETTER care with an NP than with an MD - I always seem to get more face time with them.

 

[MinnieMe87]

I hate to break it to ya, but nurse practitioners have specialties, too - and there isn't much difference between an NP and an MD. My mom is a nurse practitioner who is board certified for pediatrics. She can write prescriptions and do just about everything a doctor can do. My PCP is a NP, and I've always actually received BETTER care with an NP than with an MD - I always seem to get more face time with them.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Your copay is with your insurance company not your doctor and it is normally a set cost, a flat fee as pp suggested.

Now your "bill" to the insurance company might be billed differently if it is coded differently for the price of the visit to see the NP vs the doctor.

If the visit is covered you may not even note the difference. Check it out and see. See how they billed it to your insurance co.

We are in a plan where we do not pay a copay. We choose to pay 10% of the negotiated rate for the visit.