Transparency Matters

Patients have a right to know when the
“doctor” providing their care is not a physician

The 2021 New Jersey Healthcare Transparency Act was signed into law with the purpose to increase public awareness of the training, education and titles of healthcare professionals providing patient care and eliminate confusion often experienced by patients when receiving health care.

There is an increasing number of non-physician health care providers who use the title “doctor.” While they may have an academic doctoral degree it does cause further confusion for patients as they navigate our health care delivery system.

For example:

  • a physician assistant may also have a doctoral level degree in medical science (DMS)
  • a nurse practitioner/advanced practice nurse may also have a doctoral level degree in nursing practice (DNP)
  • a psychologist has a doctoral degree in psychology or philosophy (PsyD or PhD)
  • a chiropractor has a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)

While these health care providers are educated at the highest level of their profession and valued in our health care delivery system, they are not physicians and are not licensed to practice medicine. The only doctor licensed to practice medicine is your physician, who has completed medical school with a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy (MD/DO) and a medical residency.

To help patients navigate these many titles, the Health Care Transparency law makes it easier for patients to know if their doctor is a physician or other health care provider by:

  • Requiring all health care professionals to identify themselves clearly and accurately in all writings, advertisements, and other communications as it relates to the type of license/degree they hold,
  • Requiring all health care professionals to wear, during patient encounters, a name tag or other ID that clearly identifies the type of license/degree they hold, and
  • Requiring signage in offices identifying health care professionals as it relates to their type of license/degree they hold and alerting patients when a physician is present.

Studies Show Patients Want Physicians Leading the Care Team. Truth in Advertising Will Ensure Patients Know Who’s Providing Their Care.

Source: AMA Survey
0%
of respondents said a physician's years of medical education and training are vital to optimal patient care, especially in the event of complication or medical emergency.
0%
of respondents said that patients with one or more chronic diseases benefit when a physician leads the primary health care team.
0%
OF RESPONDENTS SAID THAT THEY PREFER A PHYSICIAN TO HAVE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF THEIR HEALTH CARE.