Nurse Practitioners in Denver, CO
Compare 1853 nurse practitioners in Denver, CO. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
1,853
Nurse Practitioners
100%
Accepting patients
38%
Most common: NP
Top-Rated Nurse Practitioners in Denver, CO
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Specialty: nurse-practitionerState: COCity: Denver
About nurse practitioners in Denver, CO
Denver's healthcare identity is shaped by two forces: the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, which pulls top researchers and specialists to the Front Range, and a population that expects its doctors to understand active lifestyles. This is a city where orthopedic surgeons treat weekend ski injuries and altitude medicine is a real subspecialty.
Denver has 1,853 nurse practitioners. The most common credential is NP (38%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Most specialist care concentrates around the Anschutz Medical Campus on the east side and the Denver Health campus downtown. Cherry Creek and the I-25 corridor south through Littleton form a secondary medical office belt. RTD light rail connects downtown to Anschutz, but most patients drive and should plan for traffic on Colorado Boulevard and I-225.
Providers practice throughout Denver. LoDo (Lower Downtown) is denver's historic downtown core with walking access to Denver Health Medical Center and specialty offices. Capitol Hill is a dense, central neighborhood near National Jewish Health and Denver Health. RiNo (River North) is a growing arts district north of downtown with new medical offices and community clinics. Cherry Creek is an upscale shopping and residential area with concierge practices and specialty medical offices.
Nearby hospitals include UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Denver Health Medical Center, and National Jewish Health. Local training programs run through University of Colorado School of Medicine and University of Denver. National Jewish Health in Denver is ranked the number one respiratory hospital in the nation.
What to expect at your first nurse practitioner visit in Denver, CO
A visit with an NP is similar to a physician visit. They will take a health history, perform a physical examination, order labs or imaging if needed, diagnose conditions, and prescribe treatment. NPs can refer you to specialists. Appointments are typically 20 to 40 minutes. NPs often spend extra time on patient education, lifestyle counseling, and answering questions. For new patients, expect a comprehensive health history review.
When to see a nurse practitioner
You might see a nurse practitioner for any of the same reasons you would see a primary care doctor: annual wellness exams, acute illness (cold, flu, infections), chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension, asthma), mental health concerns, women's health, pediatric care, or geriatric care. NPs are especially common in urgent care clinics, retail clinics, community health centers, and rural areas where physician access is limited. Psychiatric NPs (PMHNPs) prescribe and manage psychiatric medications.
Typical costs
Office visit copay: $20-50 · Annual physical: $0 (covered preventive) · Urgent care NP visit: $30-75 copay · Telehealth visit: $0-50 copay
Browse nurse practitioners by neighborhood in Denver
Frequently asked questions about nurse practitioners in Denver, CO
Denver, CO has 1,853 licensed nurse practitioners. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of nurse practitioners in Denver, CO are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Colorado's ACA marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado, offers plans from Kaiser Permanente, Anthem, Cigna, and Friday Health Plans. Kaiser runs the largest closed network in the metro. Health First Colorado is the state Medicaid program, with managed care through Rocky Mountain Health Plans and Colorado Access.
An office visit copay is $20 to $50. An annual physical is $0 (covered preventive). An urgent care NP visit copay is $30 to $75. A telehealth visit copay is $0 to $50. Actual costs in Denver, CO depend on the provider and your insurance plan. NP visits cost the same as physician visits from a patient perspective. Insurance copays do not differ based on provider type. NPs often have better availability for same-day and next-day appointments.
Denver's provider network splits into three main systems: UCHealth (the academic powerhouse), Denver Health (the public safety-net), and SCL Health/Intermountain (community hospitals). Most specialists practice within one system, so your hospital preference often determines your specialist options.
40% of nurse practitioners in Denver, CO accept Medicare. Medicare Part B covers NP visits at 85% of the physician fee schedule. Your copay remains the same as for a physician visit. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some nurse practitioners in Denver, CO accept Health First Colorado, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers NP visits in all states at the same level as physician visits. NPs serve a significant portion of Medicaid patients, especially in rural areas. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Health First Colorado participation before scheduling.
At 5,280 feet, Denver's altitude can affect medication dosing, recovery times, and respiratory conditions. Most Denver physicians are experienced with altitude-related adjustments. If you have a heart or lung condition and recently relocated, bring it up at your first appointment.
Kaiser runs a large closed network in the Denver metro with its own hospitals, urgent cares, and pharmacies. It works well if you prefer integrated care and don't mind staying within the Kaiser system. If you want flexibility to see providers across multiple hospital systems, an open-network plan gives you more options.
Nearby Cities
Other specialties in Denver
Insurance & Nurse Practitioner coverage
Top accepted carriers in Denver, CO include unitedhealthcare, medicare, qhp-68781, qhp-56707, and qhp-17091.
All insurance plans cover nurse practitioner visits. Copays and cost-sharing are typically the same as physician visits. Medicare reimburses NPs at 85% of the physician fee schedule, but this does not affect your copay. NPs are listed in insurance directories alongside physicians. If you are looking for a primary care provider accepting new patients, NPs often have shorter wait times for new patient appointments.
