Team‐based care involving physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) is one recommended strategy for improving access and quality and reducing cost in the patient‐centered medical home (PCMH). PAs and NPs can, and do, perform a variety of roles on primary care teams. This suggests that there is plasticity within the professions and between PAs, NPs, and physicians.

This brief investigates the roles of PAs and NPs in team-based care implemented at PCMHs. Key findings include that a large majority of PAs and NPs in PCMH programs are practicing as primary providers, and often conduct work that meets their level of training.