Studies have demonstrated that NPs provide the same quality of care as physicians, yet they do not receive the same reimbursement. 5. They also noted that many studies are outdated and questioned if the current education and training of NPs today is comparable to NPs trained previously (MedPAC, 2019a). Reimbursement issues in advanced practice nursing: an overview PDF Medicare Payment for Registered Nurse Services and Care Coordination How Nurse Practitioners Can Start Their Independent Practice NP salaries are less than physician salaries (MedPAC, 2019a). Recognition of this productivity by both parties is crucial for NPPs to receive parity for equal services. Phillips S. 22nd annual legislative update regulatory and legislative successes for APNs. The modifiers allow medical practitioners to effectively respond to payment policy requirements established by other entities. CMS bases physician payment on a formula that includes relative value units (RVUs). By increasing reimbursement for NPs to 100%, CMS can create a greater incentive for NPs to remain in the area for which they were trained, primary care practice. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). State practice environment. The MedPAC was also established by the Balanced Budget Act (1997). For office/clinic setting encounters with established patients that meet the incident to requirements, report using the physician's National Provider Identifier (NPI). A national survey of nurse practitioners' patient satisfaction outcomes. Indirect ReimbursementThe Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) (1990) further supported NPPs by providing direct reimbursement for care in rural areas and indirect reimbursement for care in nursing homes, at 85% of the physician rate (Sullivan-Marx, 2008). For example, APRNs may bill Medicare under the physician payment system only if the APRN has the legal authority under state law to perform the service to be billed.1 Clarification on the issue of legal authority will be covered under the definition of an advanced practice nurse, since states license APRNs, there is variation between states on the definition of an APRN. Health Affairs, 29(5), 893-899. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2010.0440, Nickerson, G. (2014). Partin B (2009). However, reimbursement is only provided at 85% of the physician rate.