Question:  I work in a primary care office with other PNPs and several physicians. We just received a notice that Aetna as of June 1, 2010 is going to be reimbursing the PNP's in the practice at 85% of the contracted rates for covered professional services (consistent with CMS payment policy). Is there something we can do about this?

Answer: If you are not aware about this new notice from Aetna (and possibly other insurers as well), please click here to read Aetna’s Office Link Update (see blue box at the top of page 4). In response to this, NAPNAP has developed a template letter that members may use to customize and send to the appropriate insurance company. Click here to download the letter.  NAPNAP does have a Position Statement on Reimbursement for Nurse Practitioners Services that may also be helpful.  You can access this position statement at http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0891-5245/PIIS0891524509002028.pdf 

Members may benefit by contacting the Multistate Reimbursement Alliance to see if they have additional information or resources.  Their website is http://www.oaapn.org/apn_multi_state.php.

We also encourage you to engage your state general NP group in this discussion to share ideas and resources. To view a list of links to many of the state NP organizations*, go to 

http://www.nurse.org/orgs.shtml.  (*NP Organizations are in bold)