Physician extenders, the law, and the future.

The process of Physician Extender authorization through general delegatory and regulatory-authority model legislation in the various states is examined in this paper. In light of past legislative and professional developments, the likelihood of independent practice patterns emerging among both nurse practitioners and physicians's assistants is assessed. It is concluded that current trends in physician manpower supply and distribution make the establishment of a physician extender group serving in competition with primary care physicians unlikely at this time. Rather, it is more likely that a clearly defined role may be established either in the employer/employee setting or through a position quite distinct from that of the primary care physician. Physician extenders functioning in this more independent role could contract with primary care and other physicians for their services without engendering economic competition for patient services.