Published in partnership with the American Association of Provider Compensation Professionals (AAPCP).
In recent years, demand for medical services has increased significantly due to a growing and aging US population. To aid in managing this increased demand, many healthcare providers have expanded utilization of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse anesthetists (“CRNAS”), commonly referred to as advanced practice clinicians (“APCs”). APCs are licensed practitioners, typically with an advanced or graduate level of education, who can provide clinical care and may bill insurers for their services.
Evidence of increased APC utilization can be seen in the year-over-year changes in the number of Physicians vs. APCs billing Medicare between 2014-2019 is illustrated in the following charts.