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

[OceanAnnie]

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.

I know they have specialties. It just isn't the same. No big deal. It was a question. I actually like the N.P. I saw.

 

[crz4mm2]

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

Ok. I can respect that.

I still am curious WHY you think you didn't get the care you deserved for your 50 dollar copay and why you think a certified specialized care provider of any kind, is worth LESS than a MD.

 

[englishteacha]

My "primary care doctor" is an FNP. She's great. I saw an MD for 7 years who I liked very much. She changed practices and I did not get the same level of care at the new practice that I got in the old one, so I went back to the old practice. I'd seen the FNP there several times and she was accepting "new" patients. I pay the same co-pay to see the NP as I paid to see the MD. I don't mind because I am getting excellent care.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Ok. I can respect that.

I still am curious WHY you think you didn't get the care you deserved for your 50 dollar copay and why you think a certified specialized care provider of any kind, is worth LESS than a MD.

I think it's curious that you don't. But, didn't you & several others state that you would choose a doctor if it were something serious? Seems kind of contradictory to me. Illustrates my point I guess.

 

[crz4mm2]

I think it's curious that you don't. But, didn't you & several others state that you would choose a doctor if it were something serious? Seems kind of contradictory to me. Illustrates my point I guess.

No, I didn't say I would choose a doctor if it was something serious. I said "if it would have bothered me, I would have asked for the doctor".

I believe that if someone gives the same service, they should be paid the same. Just like if a woman does the same work as a man, she should be paid the same amount.

 

[C.Ann]

If at all possible, I avoid them at all costs.. In the past I have had them (as well as PA's) try to change issues that only my personal physicians have a handle on.. Only my own doctors understand the history behind why things that "aren't broke shouldn't be fixed" - and the NP's and PA's are only there if the doctors aren't, so there's no "running it by" my own doctors first..

In a pinch - absolute pinch - I might see one - but if at all possible, I would wait to be seen by my own doctors..

Not sure how I feel about the co-pay.. I guess if the visit went well, I wouldn't mind, but if it didn't, I wouldn't be happy about it..

 

[kirbsam]

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.

exactly. the copay is an insurance issue. if you dont like it, go to the person who negotiates your insurance and voice your concern.

 

[OceanAnnie]

No, I didn't say I would choose a doctor if it was something serious. I said "if it would have bothered me, I would have asked for the doctor".

I believe that if someone gives the same service, they should be paid the same. Just like if a woman does the same work as a man, she should be paid the same amount.

That's apple and oranges, respectfully. There are other variables to consider, such as education, experience. Kind of like my question.

 

[OceanAnnie]

If at all possible, I avoid them at all costs.. In the past I have had them (as well as PA's) try to change issues that only my personal physicians have a handle on.. Only my own doctors understand the history behind why things that "aren't broke shouldn't be fixed" - and the NP's and PA's are only there if the doctors aren't, so there's no "running it by" my own doctors first..

In a pinch - absolute pinch - I might see one - but if at all possible, I would wait to be seen by my own doctors..

Not sure how I feel about the co-pay.. I guess if the visit went well, I wouldn't mind, but if it didn't, I wouldn't be happy about it..

Thanks C.Ann.

I like the N.P. I saw. I do. I would've rather seen the doctor, but it wasn't a choice.

 

[Inigo]

I have several health issues, so I have several offices I go to on a regular basis. I see my Rheumatologist, since he doesn't have a NP, but at the Gastroenterologist, I see the doctor on a regular basis, and I also see the NP for parts of my care. My next neurology appt is with the NP. If the NP or I see the need, the NP gets the doctors to come in.

For my regular medical care, I only go to my Adult NP. I wouldn't give her up for anything. She has more time to spend with me on an appt than the regular adult MD's do on regular appts, and she knows more about me than they do. She listens to me and doesn't discount my thoughts on things just because I'm not a medical professional. She knows I know my body and what isn't "right" for me. That doesn't mean I tell her what I want, and she does it. No, she listens, we discuss, and then she decides what's best because she is the medical professional.

I just feel like she cares more personally than the family doctors around here. Heck, she called me from home the other night at 7 pm to see how I was feeling.

My husband goes to the Internal Med MD as his regular physician. This guy doesn't listen half the time since he has to hurry up and get to the next patient. I had to put my foot down and insist he run a certain blood test on my husband, which the doctor didn't think DH needed. I had looked up the symptoms online, and I was pretty sure. Guess what? I was right, and DH is now on thyroid meds. The NP would have listened to our reasons why, and would have ordered the test the first time I asked.

 

[crz4mm2]

That's apple and oranges, respectfully. There are other variables to consider, such as education, experience. Kind of like my question.

Maybe. I just don't think a NP that functions in a specialist capacity is worth "less" than a MD.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Maybe. I just don't think a NP that functions in a specialist capacity is worth "less" than a MD.

Thanks for your answer.

 

[happygirl]

NP can do almost everything a Dr can do. If you don't think your NP did what he/she should have done I would report them.


I like NP they are more personable and take the time to answer question where Dr act like they are to busy


OP do you have a problem with DO as well

 

[OceanAnnie]

NP can do almost everything a Dr can do. If you don't think your NP did what he/she should have done I would report them.


I like NP they are more personable and take the time to answer question where Dr act like they are to busy


OP do you have a problem with DO as well

I don't view my preference to see a doctor as a problem. People have and utilize preferences everyday. I did pause over the charge for the N.P., but I didn't say anything. Hmmm. Asking a question is a problem. Interesting.

I've never seen a DO. My preference is still to see a doctor. If that is viewed as a "problem" I have no control over that.

 

[MinnieMe87]

I don't view my preference to see a doctor as a problem. People have and utilize preferences everyday. I did pause over the charge for the N.P., but I didn't say anything. Hmmm. Asking a question is a problem. Interesting.

I've never seen a DO. My preference is still to see a doctor. If that is viewed as a "problem" I have no control over that.

Asking a question is not a problem. It seems the problem is many are writing in and not agreeing with what you are writing and that is causing a problem..for you. When you write in to a discussion board, you are going to get all sorts of responses. If you are not willing to get responses that do not agree with your point of view, then don't write in.

Also..I thought a DO was a Doctor? Maybe I'm mistaken.

 

[AshleyW]

Asking a question is not a problem. It seems the problem is many are writing in and not agreeing with what you are writing and that is causing a problem..for you. When you write in to a discussion board, you are going to get all sorts of responses. If you are not willing to get responses that do not agree with your point of view, then don't write in.

Also..I thought a DO was a Doctor? Maybe I'm mistaken.

They are, they're just trained in Osteopathic Manual Manipulation as well.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Asking a question is not a problem. It seems the problem is many are writing in and not agreeing with what you are writing and that is causing a problem..for you. When you write in to a discussion board, you are going to get all sorts of responses. If you are not willing to get responses that do not agree with your point of view, then don't write in.

Also..I thought a DO was a Doctor? Maybe I'm mistaken.

No, I don't have a problem with the responses. I've been here a very long time. I know all about what you get when you ask a question here. I asked for opinions. I'm getting them. I don't have to agree with everyone.

 

[happygirl]

Asking a question is not a problem. It seems the problem is many are writing in and not agreeing with what you are writing and that is causing a problem..for you. When you write in to a discussion board, you are going to get all sorts of responses. If you are not willing to get responses that do not agree with your point of view, then don't write in.

Also..I thought a DO was a Doctor? Maybe I'm mistaken.

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine They are Dr, just with a little bit of a different training.

 

[Cindy F]

....My preference is still to see a doctor. If that is viewed as a "problem" I have no control over that.

No, your preference is to be seen when you want to be seen by whomever is available otherwise you would have waited 2 months for the doctor. You didn't want to wait.

You accepted the nurse practitioner appointment therefore you (or your insurance) will pay what the nurse practitioner requires you to pay. It's that simple. You don't get to say what someone's time is worth, you only get to decide if you wish to pay it or not- BEFORE you take the service.

It is your responsibility to inquire how much a service or item is going to cost before you purchase it.

This is why many nurse practitioners will not see physician overflow patients, the patient can either wait for their own doctor to have an opening or they can go elsewhere.

Having said that, those who are insinuating that nurse practitioners are the same as doctors, that's wrong. Nurse practitioners are not the same as doctors anymore than an LPN is the same as a nurse practitioner. Each has their own training and skill set.

 

[crz4mm2]

No, your preference is to be seen when you want to be seen by whomever is available otherwise you would have waited 2 months for the doctor. You didn't want to wait.

You accepted the nurse practitioner appointment therefore you (or your insurance) will pay what the nurse practitioner requires you to pay. It's that simple. You don't get to say what someone's time is worth, you only get to decide if you wish to pay it or not- BEFORE you take the service.

It is your responsibility to inquire how much a service or item is going to cost before you purchase it.

This is why many nurse practitioners will not see physician overflow patients, the patient can either wait for their own doctor to have an opening or they can go elsewhere.