@naiviv. Are you referring to Traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage programs. My understanding is that Mayo Clinic as a whole in all locations will take Traditional Medicare regardless of the type of practice. Whether or not you see a physician vs. a nurse practitioner will vary according to the practice. Personally I see a nurse practitioner for my cancer surveillance and I'm very satisfied working with her. I don't see my NP as a messenger at all. She collaborates with all the providers in her department and has advanced training in nursing (a graduate degree) and advanced training in gynecological oncology.

My Primary Care Provider for over 20 years is Nurse Practitioner is definitely not "another nurse." She is a doctor of nursing practice with 2 PhD's, and specialties in both lung health & geriatrics. She has 25 years of experience treating patients directly, and knows more on many topics than the physicians in our clinic.

In Minnesota, Nurse Practitioners must have 2 years current patient care experience, a BS in Nursing, over 50 credit hours of Advanced Nursing Practice training (equivalent to an MS), a practicum of about 1000 hours, and board certification. Many jobs require additional training in a specific areas as well.

I would rather start with an experienced NP (who in our clinical/hospital system is granted twice as many minutes per patient contact as the MD) than a harried, overworked MD anytime. My lung disorders, joint degeneration and chronic pain were all diagnosed by my NP, then referred to an appropriate specialist.

Sue

Sorry you feel that way re NP’s. I think that some of best practitioners are NP’s. I won’t bore folks with the examples but will comment that I have been an RN since 1966…am Master’s prepared…taught for 20 years and practiced in NY, Chicago, Michigan and for past decades in Wisconsin. Worked in Psych, Public Heath, Med Surg,Gynecology, private duty, nursing homes, home health, school nursing,occupational health,burn units,doctor’s offices in allergy and industrial settings, and Hospice
was on Wisconsin Nursing Exam Council for 8 years.
Needless to say, I am very critical re who is providing my…and family’s …care.
I …and family…and friends go to NP’s and are getting highest level of care.

I have original Medicare (Part A,B) and I am at Mayo Rochester. For my lung cancer, I was called by the actual Pulmonologist (not scheduling) within hours of receiving my scans and was offered a next day appointment - I have something complex. However, while I live in Minnesota, I live two hours away from Rochester so I am not eligible to have a primary care doctor at Mayo. Mayo explained to me that this was because the people who do live close by would not be able to have primary care doctor if people farther away were given access. This is logical, and for small things or in an emergency I do not want to drive 2 hours especially in the winter!

Agree with your comments on NP. And Mayo also uses them or PAs.
For my cancer, I have always been seen by my Pulmonologist, and Radiation Oncologist. I had meetings with surgeon also.

Mayo is a teaching and research institution. So, one can expect to see Interns and Resident doctors. Outside my cancer doctors, in other specialty areas I have found that either a resident/Intern or a PA/NP comes in first to collect information. Then the supervising Mayo on staff doctor comes in and goes over things. This happened with my Cardiac stent both for the first time and a new issue 18 months later. (I did my stent at Mayo to assure good communications between specialists since it would impact my cancer treatments. )
For Endocrinologist, I saw first an Intern and then the Mayo staff doctor. However, in Gastroenterology they set up evaluations with Nurse and Intern doctor.