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Going Beyond Power BI
A Power BI dashboard rendered its margin number perfectly. The EHR's own "paid" field ran weeks ahead of the real remittance. The chart was never the problem.
Medicare Error Rate by Specialty 2025: Internal Medicine 9.8%
CMS's 2025 audit of 11,600 Part B claims found an 8.4% improper payment rate, with internal medicine at 9.8% and family practice at 7.6%. See the full table.
Medicare Error Rate for Private Practice PT, 2025: 19.9%
CMS found a 19.9% Part B improper payment rate for private-practice physical therapists in FY 2025, against 8.4% overall. See the codes behind it.
Primary Care Visits Fell 2.2% in 2025: AMGA Data
AMGA's 2026 survey of 451 groups shows primary care visits per physician fell 2.2% in 2025 while wRVUs per visit rose from 1.86 to 1.94, lifting wRVUs 2.0%.
How Often Do Clinicians Use EHR Workarounds? 75% (2026)
MGMA's July 2026 poll of 216 medical groups found 43% of clinicians frequently work around EHR or PM problems and 32% do sometimes. See the full split.
Optometry Practice Overhead 2026: 31% Median Net
Independent optometry practices kept a median 31% of collected revenue in 2025. IDOC's report on 175+ practices breaks out staff, COGS and fixed overhead.
Is Revenue Cycle Automation Rising? 63% Say Yes (2026)
MGMA's October 2026 Stat poll of 214 group leaders found 63.0% moving toward more revenue cycle automation, 26.0% unchanged and 11.0% toward manual work.
Do AI Scribes Save Time? 16 Minutes a Day (JAMA 2026)
A 2026 JAMA study of 8,581 clinicians found AI scribes cut documentation time by 16 minutes per 8 hours of care, a 10.0% drop. See the numbers for practices.
How Many Medical Groups Sell Each Year? 8% (MGMA 2025)
MGMA's 2025 poll of 421 group leaders found 8% were acquired and 85% saw no ownership change, while 94% of independent leaders got an offer in two years.
Medicare E/M Error Rate 2025: 10.1% of Dollars Improper
CMS found 10.1% of Medicare E/M payments improper in fiscal 2025, $3.27 billion in all, and 50.0% of that came from incorrect coding. See the rates by code.
Physician Pay Change by Specialty 2026: Psychiatry Up 8.7%
MGMA's 2026 data shows psychiatry pay up 8.7% and hepatology down 9.7%, while median physician pay rose only 1.79% to 2.90% against 2.7% inflation in 2025.
Why Do Practices Sell? 70.8% Cite Payer Rates (AMA 2024)
In the AMA's 2024 survey of 520 physicians whose practices sold, 70.8% named payer rate negotiation as an important reason, ahead of resources at 64.9%.
Clinician Productivity in 2025: 60% Met Goals, Down From 69%
MGMA's March 2026 poll of 200 medical groups found 60.0% met or beat 2025 productivity goals, down from 69.0%. See five years of poll data and what moved.
Medical Office Rent Per Square Foot 2026: $25.46 Average
Medical office asking rent hit a record $25.46 per square foot in Q2 2026 with 9.8% vacancy, per CBRE. See metro rents and lease costs by practice size.
Patient Portal Message Volume 2026: Up 153% Since 2020
Patient portal messages rose 153% from 2020 to 2025 while office visits rose 17%, per a JAMA study. See who sends them and the hours they add per physician.
Which DME Items Need Prior Authorization in 2026?
Medicare adds 8 DMEPOS codes to its prior authorization list on October 28, 2026, and 22 codes to the order list. Here are the dates, states and error rates.
Medicare Part B Improper Payment Rate 2025: 8.4% by Cause
CMS put the 2025 Medicare Part B improper payment rate at 8.4%, or $9.6 billion. See which services and error types drive it and what billing teams can track.
How Practices Plan to Cut Costs in 2026: Automation 36%
Automation is the top 2026 cost-cutting move at 36.0%, ahead of process fixes at 23.0%, per MGMA's poll of 226 practice leaders and three related polls.
2027 MSSP Proposal: BASIC Level E Share Rises to 60%
CMS proposes raising the BASIC Level E shared savings rate from 50% to 60% for 2027. See what changes in benchmarks, advance payments and reporting for ACOs.
How Much Do Patients Pay at Check-In? 24.8% in Q1 2026
Kodiak Solutions' Q1 2026 data show hospitals collected 24.8% of patient payments at the point of service, from 50.2% for Medicaid to 15.0% for Medicare.
Value-Based Care 2026: 69% of Physicians Want to Learn More
Only 33% of physicians expect value-based care to improve their practice's five-year sustainability, while 69% want to learn more, athenahealth found in 2026.
ASC Pay in 2027: CMS Proposes a 2.4% Raise
CMS proposes a 2.4% ASC payment update for 2027, down from 2.6%, with 618 procedures added to the covered list and 638 removed from the inpatient only list.
Medicare Advantage Share in 2026: 55% of Beneficiaries
KFF data show 55% of eligible Medicare beneficiaries, 35.2 million people, are in Medicare Advantage in 2026. Plan types, insurer shares, prior auth rates.
Medical Practice Patient Access KPIs: 4.7% No-Show Median
Family medicine medians from MGMA DataDive: 4.7% no-show, 19.0% cancellations, 74.0% of copays collected at the visit, and 27.9% of AR over 90 days in 2024.
How Long Do Physicians Spend in the EHR Per Visit? 16 Minutes
Physicians spend 16 minutes 14 seconds in the EHR per visit, and 75% of groups use workarounds, per a 2020 Annals study and a 2026 MGMA poll of 216 groups.
MIPS 2027 Proposal: 180 Measures, MVPs Required by 2029
CMS proposes ending traditional MIPS after 2028, with 180 quality measures and 30 MVPs. See the 75-point threshold and the 86.6% positive-adjustment share.
Practice Leader Burnout in 2026: 62% Say They Are Burned Out
MGMA's Oct. 2026 poll of 418 practice leaders found 62% burned out and 84% at least somewhat, up from 73% in 2018. See what leaders say drives it and helps.
Physician Burnout Rate by Specialty: 41.9% in 2025
AMA data on nearly 19,000 physicians put burnout at 41.9% in 2025, from 49.8% in emergency medicine to 23.3% in infectious diseases, with a 2023-2025 trend.
Where Practices Lose Revenue: Denials Lead at 48% (2026)
MGMA's January 2026 poll of 288 groups ranks revenue cycle leaks: denials and appeals lead at 48.0%, front-end issues follow at 23.0%, coding is at 13.0%.
HIPAA Security Rule 2026: 72-Hour Restore, 12-Month Audits
HHS now projects the HIPAA Security Rule overhaul for July 2027. See the 72-hour restore, 1-hour access cutoff, and 12-month audit clocks it proposes.
Pay per wRVU by Specialty in 2026: $33.83 to $99.97
AMGA's 2026 survey of 451 groups puts median pay per wRVU at $52.61 in family medicine and $99.97 in hematology/oncology. See 10 specialties and 6 APC roles.
Practice Admin Cost per Patient Hour: $29.30 (AMA 2024)
AMA's 2024 survey of 831 practices puts administrative cost at $29.30 per patient care hour, from $14.05 in psychiatry to $77.30 in ophthalmology by group.
Physician Pay Rose 4.3% to 7.2% in 2026, by Specialty Group
SullivanCotter's 2026 survey of 575 organizations shows physician pay up 7.2% in adult medical and 4.6% in primary care. See how pay compares with output.
Top Revenue Cycle Risks in 2026: Denials Lead at 62%
Denials top 2026 revenue cycle risks at 62% of 120+ leaders (Adonis). HFMA data: 88% say claim disputes delay pay, and 20% report final denials above 5%.
Do Practices Pay for Booking Platforms? 17.0% Do (2026)
Only 17.0% of medical groups pay for third-party booking platforms, MGMA's 2026 poll of 251 leaders found. See the fee rules, costs and patient search data.
Advance Care Planning Billing: 4.6% of Clinicians in 2021
Only 4.6% of Medicare practitioners billed advance care planning in 2021, up from 1.8% in 2016. CMS now proposes new 2027 codes for clinical staff time.
Physician Pay by Specialty in 2026: Average Is $386,000
Medscape's 2026 survey of 5,916 physicians puts average pay at $386,000, from $266,000 in pediatrics to $611,000 in orthopedics. See the specialty table.
Practice Expense per Patient Care Hour: $133.61 (AMA 2024)
AMA's 2024 survey of 831 practices puts practice expense at $133.61 per patient care hour, from $38.10 in psychiatry to $297.19 in ophthalmology by specialty.
Only 19% of Practices Are Sure They Can Recover From a Hack
MGMA's October 2026 poll of 238 leaders found 19% very confident of a fast cyberattack recovery, down from 20% in 2025. See costs and the HHS 72-hour rule.
How Many Practices Use AI in Visits? 83% in 2026
MGMA's August 2026 poll of 189 groups found 83.0% use AI in patient visits, up from 71.0% in 2025, and 45.0% use it in over a quarter of those visits.
Rural Independent Physicians Fell 43% From 2019 to 2024
Rural independent physicians fell 43%, from 21,956 to 12,467, between 2019 and 2024, and 7,300 independent practices closed or sold, per PAI and Avalere data.
Medicare Telehealth Through 2027: 23% Still Use It
Medicare telehealth runs through December 31, 2027. CMS counted 6,400,135 users, 23% of eligible beneficiaries in 2025. See the usage data and key dates.
What Is a Good Net Collection Rate? 97.1% Median (2026)
Median net collection rate is 97.1% for family medicine per MGMA DataDive 2025. See it against 95.1% and 91.0% benchmarks, and what a point is worth.
Physician Pay Methods: 70.5% Get a Salary (AMA 2024)
AMA's 2024 survey of 5,000 physicians found 70.5% receive a salary and 60.8% are paid by two or more methods. See how the pay mix differs by practice type.
Which Practices Join ACOs? Solo 17.0%, Multispecialty 47.1%
AMA's 2024 survey of 5,000 physicians: 37.6% are in a Medicare ACO, from 17.0% in solo practices to 47.1% in multispecialty. See rates by size and owner.
How Often Is G2211 Billed? 27% of Medicare Visits in 2026
About 27% of Medicare E/M visits carried G2211 by mid-2025, and CMS proposes a 16% modifier for 2027. See billing rates by clinician type and what it pays.
Hardest Staff to Hire in 2026: Physicians 48%, Billers 44%
Veradigm found 48.0% of 360 independent practice leaders call physicians the hardest hire, with billing staff at 44.0%. MGMA and BLS data add role detail.
Medicare 2027 Practice Expense Rule: 5% Cap, 2-Year Phase-In
CMS proposes to phase out practice cost indices from 0.6 to 2.2 over 2 years and cap 2027 practice expense swings at 5.0% for unchanged Medicare codes.
Do Physicians Fear Denials More Than Rates? 49% in 2026
Nearly half of 1,045 physicians (49%) fear claim denials more than falling rates, and 66% of small groups do, per athenahealth's 2026 sentiment survey.
Do Practices See Revenue Leakage? Only 24% Say Yes (2026)
Only 24.0% of 360 independent practice leaders in Veradigm's 2026 survey see where revenue leaks, and 41.0% learn of claim denials one to two weeks late.
Medical Practice Employee Benefits 2026: Only 16% Expanded
Only 16% of medical groups expanded employee benefits in 2026, down from 45% in 2022, per MGMA Stat polls of 287 to 553 groups. Full poll table inside.
What 10 Years of MGMA Polls Show About Practices (2026)
MGMA Stat polls since 2016 show 84% to 92% of groups said costs outran revenue in 2022 to 2026, and 35% of 228 leaders rank payment as the top 2036 pressure.
Physician Practice Size in 2024: 47.4% Have 10 or Fewer
AMA's 2024 survey of 5,000 physicians found 47.4% work in practices of 10 or fewer, down from 61.4% in 2012. See the size and ownership data by size band.
How Much Practice Revenue Is Fee-for-Service? 67.7% in 2024
Fee-for-service was 67.7% of physician practice revenue in 2024, down from 71.9% in 2014, per the AMA's survey of 5,000 physicians. See the full trend.
Medicare RPM Payment Rates in 2026: What Each Code Pays
Medicare pays $26.05 for the new 10-minute RPM code and $51.77 for the 20-minute code in 2026, yet 43% of 2022 RPM patients lacked a billed component.
Is Payer Rate Data Reliable? 91.8% Are Ghost Rates
A Health Affairs Scholar study found 91.8% of 3.4 billion payer negotiated rates are ghost rates. Here is how practices can use the files for contract talks.
Why Claims Get Denied: 19% of In-Network Claims in 2024
KFF data on 451 million in-network ACA claims show 19% were denied in 2024, and 34% of those denials cite administrative or prior authorization reasons.
Where Front-Desk Phone Time Goes: 45.0% Is Eligibility
MGMA's March 2026 poll of 294 practices found eligibility and prior authorization use 45.0% of phone time, ahead of scheduling at 31.0%. See the full data.
Physician Supervision Pay Premium: 15% to 21% in 2026
MGMA's 2026 data on 245,900+ clinicians shows physicians with supervisory duties earn 15.2% to 20.7% more total pay, with APP pay and output also rising.
How Fast Do Practices Learn of Denials? 41% Wait 1-2 Weeks
Only 8.0% of 360 practice leaders get real-time denial alerts and 41.0% wait one to two weeks, per Veradigm's 2026 survey, with denial causes by share.
No Surprises Act IDR: Providers Won 85% in 2025
Providers won 85% of 2.6 million No Surprises Act disputes in 2025, with a median award of 445% of the QPA. See win rates, awards and the new $15 fee.
Is Prior Auth Slower in 2026? 44.0% of Practices Say Yes
MGMA's September 2026 poll of 178 practices found 44.0% see slower prior auth turnaround, while KFF's payer data show a 0.9-day median. See why they differ.
CMS Drug Prior Auth Rule: 72-Hour Decisions by 2027
CMS proposes 24-hour Medicaid and 72-hour marketplace decisions on drug prior authorization from October 1, 2027. See the covered payers, dates and numbers.
Are Insurer Takebacks Rising in 2026? Yes, Up 13.8%
Kodiak Solutions data show takebacks reached 1.57% of accounts receivable in early 2026, up 13.8% in a year, even as initial and final denial rates fell.
How Many Payer Portals Do Practices Use? 61.0% Use 7+
MGMA's March 2026 poll of 252 practices found 61.0% use seven or more payer portals weekly. See the breakdown, the staff time cost and the CMS API dates.
How Do Practices Pay NPs and PAs? 44% Use Flat Salary
MGMA polls show 44.0% of groups pay NPs and PAs salary only and 44.0% add incentives, while base salary is 84.0% of mean APP pay. See the 2026 numbers.
How Many Physician Practices Will Go Bankrupt in 2026?
Gibbins Advisors projects 14 physician practice Chapter 11 filings in 2026, up from 6 in 2025. Here is what MGMA cost and revenue polls show behind the count.
Physician Practice Revenue Up 7.6% in 2026, Expenses Up 3.3%
Strata's August 2026 data on 10,000+ practices shows revenue up 7.6% and direct expenses up 3.3%, while productivity fell 3.3% and support staff rose 3.6%.
What Does E/M Undercoding Cost a Practice? 2026 Data
Undercoding cost one pediatrics group over $200,000 in 18 months, and each 99213 to 99214 step adds $45.52 per Medicare visit in 2026, per MGMA and CMS data.
Medical Office Staff Pay in 2026: Median Salary by Role
Median 2025 pay runs from $38,010 for receptionists to $123,860 for managers, and 64.0% of groups budget raises of 1.0% to 3.0%, per BLS and MGMA Stat data.
Patient Star Ratings 2026: 75% Won't Book Below 4.0 Stars
Rater8's 2026 survey of 992 adults found 75% of patients will not book a provider rated below 4.0 stars. See the thresholds, complaints and review data.
What Replacing a Medical Assistant Costs in 2026
Replacing a medical assistant costs $7,283 to $9,104 at 16.0% to 20.0% of the $45,520 BLS median pay, per Medical Economics, MGMA, BLS, and Gallup data.
34% of Medical Groups Built Their Own AI Tool in 2026
MGMA's September 2026 poll of 228 leaders found 34% of medical groups built an AI tool in-house, while only 20% had an AI policy. Here are the numbers.
Modifier 25 in 2027: Medicare's Proposed 50% Payment Cut
CMS proposes paying every same-day service after the highest one at 50% in 2027. One example pair loses 16.9% of RVUs. The final rule is due by November 1.
How Many Medical Groups Have an AI Policy? 20% in 2026
In MGMA's January 2026 poll of 328 leaders, 20% of medical groups had a formal AI policy and 22% were writing one. Here is how that compares with AI use.
How Many Medicare ACOs Are There in 2026? 511, Up From 476
Medicare's Shared Savings Program grew to 511 ACOs in 2026, covering 12.6 million beneficiaries and earning $4.1 billion in shared savings, up from 476 ACOs.
Prior Authorization 2026: 40% of Practices Staff It Full Time
AMA's survey of 1,000 physicians finds practices complete 40 prior authorizations weekly, and 40.0% now employ staff solely for that task.
ChatGPT Named 0 of 200 Practices Tested in 2026
A 2026 MGMA test of 4,950 ChatGPT prompts found zero of 200 independent practices named and cited, and 55.0% of medical groups lack any AI search strategy.
Days in A/R 2026: Independent Practices Pull Ahead
Physician-owned practices grew their under-30-day A/R share by up to 7 points in 2024, while hospital-owned groups fell behind, MGMA's 2026 data shows.
Why 79% of Independent Practices Are Betting on Tech
A March 2026 Veradigm survey of 360 independent practice leaders found 79% call technology essential to independence, but 68% lack real-time AR visibility.
APCM Payment in 2026: $16 to $117 per Patient per Month
Medicare pays $16, $54, or $117 per patient per month for APCM in 2026, by level. CMS payment file data, 2025 changes, and revenue for a 100-patient panel.
What Medical Practices Plan to Buy in 2027 (1,184 Surveyed)
Black Book's September 2026 survey of 1,184 leaders found 78% of practices with large 2027 purchase plans review cybersecurity and 70% plan RCM automation.
Practice Manager Duties in 2026: Over Half Added 4 or More
MGMA polled 227 practice leaders in Sept. 2026: only 8% gained no new duties in two years, and over half added four or more. BLS pay and job data included.
59% of Health Care Workers Plan to Job Hunt in 2026
The Harris Poll's 2026 Healthcare Workforce Barometer found that 59.0% of health care workers plan a job search this year, up 4 points from 55.0% in 2025.
Patient Cost Estimates in 2026: Only 45% Get One
Experian Health's 2026 survey found 45% of patients got a cost estimate before care, up from 41%, and 73% of providers say patients delay care without one.
The Behavioral Health Staffing Gap in 2026: 27.3% Adequacy
Trilliant Health's 2026 report finds only 27.3% of U.S. behavioral health workforce need is met, with a 36,780-FTE psychiatry shortfall projected by 2038.
Physician Base Pay Grew 2% in 2026. Bonuses Grew 12%
Resolve's review of 4,417 signed physician contracts found 2026 base pay grew just 2.0% while signing bonuses climbed 12.0% to a $25,000 median value.
Telehealth Use in 2026: Private Practice Trails by 11 Points
AMA data show 79.7% of physicians in hospital-owned practices used telehealth in 2024 versus 68.4% in private practice, an 11.3-point ownership gap in 2026.
CMS's 2026 ASC Rule: 573 New Procedures, 2.6% Raise
CMS's final rule for Calendar Year 2026 adds 573 new procedures to the ASC covered list and raises ASC and OPPS payment rates 2.6%, down from 2.9% in 2025.
MIPS 2026: 75 Points Avoids a 9% Medicare Penalty
CMS set the 2026 MIPS performance threshold at 75 out of 100 points, and AMA data show 49.0% of solo physicians missed it and lost Medicare Part B pay.
190 New ICD-10-CM Codes Start Oct. 1: What to Check Now
CMS adds 190 new ICD-10-CM codes and 101 new ICD-10-PCS codes for October 1, 2026, with 30 CM deletions billing teams must update before claims reject.
80% of Independent PCPs Worry About Money in 2026
Elation Health's 2026 survey of 280 clinicians finds 80% of independent primary care physicians worried about finances, yet only 2% plan to leave the field.
Medical Group Denial Rates in 2026: 39% Are Above 5%
In Guidehouse and HFMA's 2026 survey of 191 executives, 39% of medical groups report final denial rates above 5%, against 25% of hospitals and 19.7% overall.
The Real Cost of an AI-Related Data Breach in 2026
AI-enabled data breaches cost $6.04 million on average in 2026, about $1 million more than one without AI, and healthcare stays costliest at $6.64 million.
The NP and PA Pay Gap Fell From $7,000 to Under $400 in 2026
AMGA's 2026 survey of 451 medical groups and 188,000 providers finds the NP and PA pay gap in medical specialties fell from over $7,000 to under $400 in 2025.
What Does a CRNA Really Cost a Practice in 2026?
A fully loaded CRNA costs a practice or ASC $342,812 a year in 2026, roughly $51,000 above the $291,396 average salary, once taxes and benefits are added.
Denial Management Now Eats Up to 75 Hours a Week
Adonis's 2026 survey of more than 120 revenue cycle leaders found most healthcare organizations spend 50 to 75 hours a week managing claim denials alone.
Only 10% of Certified Medical Coders Work in Small Practices
AAPC's 2026 survey of over 20,000 coders and billers found average pay of $65,007, but only 10% now work in small physician practices, versus 22.4% in 2010.
Malpractice Premiums Rose for a 7th Straight Year in 2025
Medical liability insurance premiums rose for 39.9% of U.S. physicians in 2025, the seventh straight annual increase, and 11 states saw a jump of 10% or more.
Half of Medical Practices Wait 3+ Years for a Payer Raise
MGMA's August 2026 poll of 203 medical groups found 50.0% went three or more years without a commercial payer rate increase, as 84.0% face rising costs.
Small Practice Health Premiums Rise 11% in 2026
KFF's 2025 survey of 1,862 employers found small-firm family health premiums averaged $26,054, and insurers project an 11.0% rise for small groups in 2026.
Which ASC Specialty Earns the Most Per Case in 2026?
Total joint replacement earns $16,038 per ASC case, the highest of any specialty, while gastroenterology averages just $1,362 per visit, HST Pathways finds.
Patient Access Priorities in 2026: No-Shows Top List at 27%
MGMA's poll of 236 medical practice leaders found 27.0% rank no-shows the top 2026 patient access problem, ahead of scheduling, phones, and wait times.
RCM Outsourcing in 2026: 69% Now Outsource Part of the Cycle
In 2026, 69% of hospitals and medical groups outsource part of the revenue cycle, with accounts receivable follow-up outsourced most at 67%, HFMA data shows.
48% of Practices Added More APPs to Care Teams in 2026
MGMA data show 48.0% of 305 medical groups added more nurse practitioners and physician assistants than physicians in 2025, reshaping 2026 care teams.
Medicare's 15% Lab Test Cut Is Delayed to 2027, Not Canceled
Congress delayed a 15% Medicare cut to about 800 lab tests through 2026, but the cut returns in 2027 under a new reporting cycle practices must track.
Which Medical Specialties Stay Independent in 2026?
AMA survey data show ophthalmology private-practice rates ran at 70.4% in 2024, versus under a third for general surgery, against a 42.2% overall average.
Why 23% of Practices Fall Behind on Credentialing in 2026
MGMA's November 2025 poll of 131 medical groups found 23% report a credentialing backlog, even as Medicare must process clean applications in 15 days.
Medicare's 2026 Rule Cuts Facility Pay by 50%. Here's Why
CMS cut the indirect practice-expense share tied to work RVUs by 50% for facility-based Medicare services in 2026, while raising outpatient facility pay 2.6%.
Medicare Physician Pay Fell 33% Since 2001. Costs Rose 59%
Medicare physician pay has fallen 33% since 2001 after inflation, the AMA finds, while practice costs climbed 59% over the same 24-year stretch nationwide.
How Automation Saved U.S. Healthcare $258 Billion in 2024
The 2025 CAQH Index found electronic transactions saved U.S. healthcare $258 billion in 2024, while manual prior authorization still costs $10.97 a claim.
Why RN Pay Varies $22,947 by Region in 2026
MGMA's 2026 compensation report finds registered nurse pay swings $22,947 by region, while medical assistant hiring grew harder for 56% of all practices.
Staff Pay Raises in 2026: 64% Budget Just 1% to 3%
MGMA's 2026 poll of 349 medical groups found 64% budgeted just a 1% to 3% staff raise, even as some roles' market pay rose more than 14% in just one year.
The Real Cost of a Healthcare Data Breach in 2026
A healthcare data breach cost $7.42 million on average in 2025, and providers reported 604 of 2025's 804 large breaches, IBM and HIPAA Journal data show.
Medical Practice Turnover in 2026: 69% Say Steady or Lower
MGMA's May 2026 poll of 303 medical group leaders found 69.0% report staff turnover flat or lower than in 2025, while 28.0% of leaders say it kept rising.
What Practices Actually Collect From Patients in 2026
Practices now collect just 56.0% of copays at time of service, down from 89.9% pre-pandemic, while average deductibles reach $1,886, MGMA and KFF data show.
7 Days, Not 14: What CMS's 2027 Prior Auth Rule Requires
CMS's prior authorization rule sets a 7-day standard decision limit and 72 hours for urgent requests, with new payer APIs required by January 1, 2027.
Medical Practice Budgets in 2026: Workforce Gets 37%
MGMA's October 2025 poll of 213 medical groups found workforce spending absorbs 37% of new 2026 budget dollars, ahead of health IT at 30% and RCM at 12%.
Which Specialties Have the Widest wRVU Pay Gap in 2026
Orthopedic surgeons earned $748,799 in 2026, up 3.5%, while wRVUs barely moved, one of several specialty gaps between physician pay and output growth.
Claim Denials Cost Providers $48 Billion in 2025
Claim denials and uncollected patient bills cost U.S. hospitals and physician practices $48.4 billion in net revenue in 2025, Kodiak Solutions data show.
Direct Primary Care Practices Grew 83% From 2018 to 2023
A Health Affairs study found concierge and direct primary care practice sites grew 83.1% from 2018 to 2023, while independent ownership fell from 84% to 60%.
Physician Supply Grows 1% a Year. NP Supply Grows 11%
A Health Affairs study finds U.S. physician supply will grow 1.1% a year through 2030, versus 11.0% for nurse practitioners and 5.6% for physician associates.
UnitedHealthcare Cuts Prior Authorization on 1,700 Codes
UnitedHealthcare is dropping prior authorization on 1,700 procedure codes on October 1, 2026, cutting its total PA volume by 30% across four plan types.
ASC Valuation Multiples Hit an 8-Year High in 2026
The median ASC sold for 7.9 times EBITDA in 2025, the highest multiple in eight years, even as deal volume fell to about half of 2025's pace by mid-2026.
Physician AI Use Hit 81% in 2026: What It Means for Practices
The AMA's 2026 survey of 1,692 physicians found that 81% now use AI professionally, up sharply from just 38% in 2023, and 27% got zero formal training.
9 Revenue Cycle Benchmarks to Track in 2026
Independent practices comparing 2026 revenue cycle benchmarks face a 9.0% average denial rate, up from 7.5% in 2023, and 42 days in accounts receivable.
Physician Productivity Rose 9% Since 2023. Pay Rose 6%
Kaufman Hall data show physician wRVUs per FTE rose 9% since 2023 while compensation rose only 6%, a widening gap independent practices need to track.
How Long Does It Take to Fill a Physician Vacancy in 2026?
AAPPR data from nearly 130 U.S. health organizations shows physician searches take a median of 118 days, while only 22% of practices track cost per hire.
Regulatory Burden in 2026: Why 40% of Practices Added Staff
MGMA's April 2026 survey of 230+ practice leaders found 95% report rising regulatory burden, and 40% now staff three or more people just for compliance.
New Patient Wait Times in 2026: 31 Days on Average
New-patient wait times average 31 days nationally, up 19.0% since 2022, as MGMA's 2026 poll of practices finds 28.0% now report longer waits than a year ago.
Patient No-Show Rates in 2026: Why 32% Are Rising
MGMA's August 2026 poll of 190 practices found 32% reporting higher patient no-show rates this year, tied to rising deductibles and lost marketplace coverage.
Revenue Cycle AI in 2026: 27% at Scale, 53% Piloting
Only 27% of health system revenue cycle teams run AI at scale in 2026, HFMA's survey of 95 finance leaders found, and 53% are still just piloting programs.
What the Proposed 2027 Medicare Fee Cuts Mean for Practices
CMS proposes a 1.68% cut to the 2027 Medicare conversion factor, with dermatology and otolaryngology facing 9% reductions; comments close September 14, 2026.
How Many Physicians Are Independent in 2026?
The AMA found 42.2% of physicians in private practice in 2024, down from 60.1% in 2012, as a report puts hospital or corporate employment at 82% by 2026.
Which Insurers Deny the Most Prior Authorizations in 2026?
KFF's August 2026 analysis of 14 insurers found prior authorization denial rates ranging from 2% to 25%, with ACA marketplace plans denying most often.
Medical Practice Costs Are Outpacing Revenue in 2026
MGMA's 2026 poll of 251 practices found 84% facing higher operating costs, while only 47% saw revenue growth that kept pace, narrowing margins industrywide.
Patient Scheduling and Communication Software Compared: What the Reviews Actually Show
A literature-review comparison of eight patient scheduling and communication vendors, plus a correction to the widely cited no-show cost figure.
Comparing Medical Billing and Clearinghouse Software After the Change Healthcare Outage
A comparison of medical billing and clearinghouse vendors, framed by the 2024 Change Healthcare outage and its lasting effect on vendor selection.
Choosing an EHR as an Independent Practice: What the Vendor Data Shows
A literature-review comparison of EHR vendors by practice size, using published pricing, KLAS and Capterra scores, and switching-cost data.
AI Medical Scribes Compared: What the Research Actually Shows
A literature-review comparison of nine AI medical scribes, covering integrations, pricing, and reputation signals.
The 2026 Medicare Efficiency Adjustment and What It Does to wRVU Compensation Plans
CMS's 2026 fee schedule cuts wRVU values on many codes, which can push physicians below comp-plan thresholds without any drop in productivity.
AI in Medical Practices: What the Adoption Surveys Actually Show
MGMA Stat data on AI adoption in medical practices, and why using AI is not the same claim as AI reducing workload.
Five KPIs Worth a Monthly Review in a Medical Practice
Most published practice KPI lists name 15 to 20 metrics; a workable core for monthly review is five, each with a formula and benchmark.
Why Your EHR and Billing Reports Never Match
EHR and billing reports rarely agree because they measure different things, not because one system has an error.
What Prior Authorization Actually Costs a Practice in Staff Time
A plain-language method for turning the AMA's prior authorization time burden into a dollar figure a practice can calculate.
How Many Support Staff Does a Physician Need?
Support staff ratios run 3-5 FTE per physician in primary care, but a tight hiring market makes the number hard to hit.
The Full Cost of an In-House Billing Department
Most published comparisons of in-house versus outsourced billing cost are written by billing vendors; here is how to build your own instead.
Which Denied Claims Are Worth Appealing
Most denied claims are never appealed even though most filed appeals succeed, and a cost comparison can show which denials are worth the effort.
What a Normal Denial Rate Looks Like in 2026
A look at the current claim denial benchmarks, why they vary by payer, and how to compare your own rate against them.