Nurse practitioners and physician assistants have long argued that they have the ability to provide as much as 70% of the medical services provided by primary care physicians at a much lower cost. Yet government regulations limit their ability to work independently of physicians.

Answer the following question:

After acquainting yourself with the education and training that pas and NPS receive, do you support the view that they should work independently of physicians? Explain what would happen to the level of competition in the physician services market if all statutes limiting activities of physician assistants and nurse practitioners were eliminated.