NPs and PAs are much cheaper for a practice than an MD, especially a specialist MD. For many routine purposes, NPs and PAs do a good job – it was an NP who saved my life by listening to my heart (finding a heart murmur) when my MD primary care neglected that simple step. (I sent the NP a heart-felt thank-you note.)
However, after my surgery I was not seen by any doctors. In the old days, the doctors would make rounds but not anymore. So a serious problem that kept me in the hospital for 9 days went untreated.
Wendy