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Cost Effectiveness:
PAs have been found to be highly cost effective when fully utilized.
Research has shown that patient visit costs are less when PAs
are employed in physicians' practices. At the same time, practice
productivity measured in patient visits increased and practice
income rises accordingly. Most physicians who hire PAs do so
less for the added profit than for the added freedom, time,
and flexibility employing a PA affords them.
Salaries:
There is no fixed salary scale for physician assistants. Salaries
today vary widely and reflect the type of practice, the practice
location, the experience of the PA, and the benefit of the PA
to the practice. The American Academy of Physician Assistants
(AAPA) maintain information on practice profiles, salaries and
benefits which are updated annually.
Professional benefits such as continuing medical education time
and alternative payment arrangements such as profit sharing can
all be negotiated on an individual basis and formalized by written
or verbal agreement.
Professional
Liability Insurance:
Liability insurance covering the PA
is generally paid by the employing physician and can be arranged
in one of two ways. In
the first, the PA is covered by the umbrella policy or "rider" of
the physician. Many carriers do not increase the premium when
a PA is employed; some increase it only slightly, while others
may increase it significantly. Physicians should consult their
carrier about their particular policy. In the second method,
the PA may take out a separate individual policy.
Physician assistants have proven to be an asset in reducing malpractice
exposure in private practice settings. This is attributed to
the extra time PAs devote to patient education and counseling,
improved patient compliance, and the close teamwork between the
physician and PA.
Reimbursement:
Physician assistants usually don't charge directly for their
services. Reimbursement is made commonly through the supervising
physician or the employing institution.
Medicare
currently reimburses for physician services provided by PAs,
including surgical assists, under
Parts A and B at
85% of the physician fee schedule. In certain outpatient
situations, it may be at 100%.
In California, the Medi-Cal program reimburses for services
provided by PAs at 100% of the supervising physician's reimbursement
rate. Medi-Cal has some specific requirements for physicians
utilizing PAs.
The private insurer reimburses at varying rates up to 100%
of that of the physician.
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