Since the development of the physician's assistant and nurse practitioner concepts within the civilian health care systems during the mid-1960's, each of the military medical departments comprising the Military Health Care System has added a force of these non-physician providers to their inventory of health care personnel. This study attempts to present a historical perspective of the factors leading to the development of these concepts, within both the civilian and military health care sectors. Once this background is developed, a description of the current personnel resources of the Military Health Care System is presented. Given this information, the study then places its major emphasis on the cost implications for the Military Health Care System in utilizing these non-physician providers. The study identifies four major cost demands: salary, overhead, training, and supervision. These and other factors are reviewed and analyzed as to their implications for the Military Health Care System.

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