281,936
Physician Assistants
100%
Accepting patients
70%
Most common: PA-C
FindClarity lists 281,936 physician assistants nationwide. 100% are currently accepting new patients. The most common credential is PA-C (70%). 58% accept Medicare.
Physician assistants (PAs) are licensed medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop treatment plans, prescribe medications, and perform procedures. PAs complete a master's degree program (typically three years) that follows a medical school curriculum model, including classroom instruction in anatomy, pharmacology, and pathology followed by clinical rotations in multiple specialties.
PAs practice medicine under the supervision of a physician, though "supervision" does not always mean the physician is on-site. The degree of oversight varies by state and practice setting. PAs can switch specialties throughout their career without additional formal training, giving them flexibility to practice in family medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, orthopedics, dermatology, and many other fields.
In many clinical settings, PAs provide the same services as physicians. They examine patients, order and interpret tests, prescribe medications, assist in surgery, and manage both acute and chronic conditions. PAs are particularly common in surgical practices, emergency departments, and specialty clinics.
You might see a PA in virtually any medical setting: primary care, urgent care, the emergency department, a surgical practice, or a specialty clinic. PAs handle routine visits, sick appointments, chronic disease management, pre-operative evaluations, minor procedures (suturing, joint injections, biopsies), and post-surgical follow-ups. In surgical specialties, PAs often perform the initial consultation and assist during surgery. If you are seen in an urgent care clinic or ER, there is a good chance your provider will be a PA.
A PA visit follows the same format as a physician visit: health history, physical exam, diagnosis, and treatment plan. PAs can order labs, imaging, and referrals. They prescribe medications in all 50 states. Appointments typically last 15 to 30 minutes. PAs consult with the supervising physician for complex or unusual cases. In surgical practices, the PA may see you for pre-op and post-op visits while the surgeon performs the procedure.
Office visit copay: $20-50 · Urgent care visit: $30-75 copay · Procedure (biopsy, injection): covered at specialist rate · ER visit with PA: same as physician ER copay
Both PAs and NPs can diagnose, treat, and prescribe. The main difference is training path: PAs follow a medical education model (similar to medical school) while NPs follow a nursing education model. PAs always practice under physician supervision (though the degree varies). NPs practice independently in some states. PAs can switch specialties without additional training. In practice, PAs and NPs provide very similar care for most conditions.
Yes, you can request to see the physician. However, in some practices the PA manages certain types of appointments (follow-ups, routine visits, minor procedures), and physician availability may be limited. The PA and physician work as a team, with the physician available for consultation on complex cases. Many patients develop a strong relationship with their PA and prefer the continuity.
From a patient perspective, the copay is usually the same regardless of whether you see a PA or physician. Some insurance plans reimburse PA services at a slightly lower rate than physician services, but this difference is absorbed by the practice and does not affect your out-of-pocket cost.
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All insurance plans cover PA visits at the same copay level as physician visits. Medicare reimburses PA services at 85% of the physician fee schedule, but your copay is based on the allowed amount and remains the same. PAs are listed in insurance provider directories. PA-performed procedures (suturing, biopsies, joint injections) are covered the same as when performed by a physician.