What does a physician assistant do?
A physician assistant (PA) is a licensed clinician with a graduate degree who diagnoses illness, orders tests, and prescribes medicine. PAs work as part of a care team with physicians.
Last updated November 11, 2026
Find physician assistants near you
When people see one
- Yearly checkups and vaccines
- A new illness or injury
- Follow-up visits for ongoing conditions
- A quicker appointment than a physician offers
How it differs
Nurse practitioner (primary care): PAs train in a medical model and can work in any specialty. NPs train in a nursing model and often focus on one patient group.
Family medicine doctor: A family medicine doctor is a physician. A PA is not a physician, but practices medicine as part of a team.
On 2027 Colorado plans
Do you need a referral? No. You don't need a referral for primary care.
What a visit costs (the plan's filed "Other Practitioner Office Visit (Nurse, Physician Assistant)" benefit, in network, before any extra savings on silver plans):
- Bronze: $25 to $50 a visit on 23 of 56 plans; on the other 33, you pay toward your deductible or a share of the bill.
- Silver: $0 to $90 a visit on 53 of 58 plans; on the other 5, you pay toward your deductible or a share of the bill.
- Gold: $0 to $70 a visit on 26 of 30 plans; on the other 4, you pay toward your deductible or a share of the bill.
In-network care costs less. Out-of-network visits on an HMO or EPO usually aren't covered except in an emergency.
In Colorado
Public records list 5,188 physician assistants at 1,668 Colorado locations. Colorado shows 10,103 active licenses of this kind, including people who don't see patients or work out of state.
- El Paso County: 223 locations
- Denver County: 219 locations
- Arapahoe County: 212 locations
- Jefferson County: 165 locations
- Adams County: 116 locations
- Boulder County: 115 locations
Counties with the fewest: Washington (1), Sedgwick (1), Phillips (1), Park (1), Dolores (1). 11 counties have none.
Questions to ask the office
- Are you taking new patients?
- Which 2027 plans do you take? Ask for the plan's network name, not only the insurance company.
- Will I see the PA, the physician, or both?
- Does my plan list the PA as a primary care provider?