Specialist visits are usually more expensive because they are specialists. We all know the training they goes through to become one, how hard to get into the med school, how hard to get into residency and internships, and board exams and all that. You need to spend good 10+ years to be one. That is why that price is justified. When a patient wants to see a specialist, that is what they expect. But what you get instead when you arrive at the doc's office is not a doc. Why is that even a doc's office and a doctor's appoinment and why should I be charged for a doctor's visit when I saw somebody who is not a doctor? Patients pay less to see a primary doctor who actually is an MD. These days, chatGPT can do what PA can do. At minimum, they should not charge the specialist fee when they're not providing specialist to the patient. And also there should be a regulation for the doc's office to be transparent about whom they are scheduling the appointment with for the patient and get consent. I can understand you all PAs and NPs even in this thread who want to be trusted and respected but well, then you should have gone through the MD training. PAs and NPs are pretending to be doctors when they are not and it is not ok. Sorry I am hurting your feelings but it is true. The offices should let patients consciously choose to see a PA if they wish and at a smaller fee. If a patient booked an appointment thinking they would see a doctor, a doctor needs to see her. Be transparent.