Healthcare Industry Surveys

The one thing 116 healthcare providers would change about health insurance [verbatim]

In their own words, providers say health insurance companies deny treatments they’ve prescribed to patients too often – here’s what they would change if they could by Intelliworx More than 4 in 10 healthcare providers surveyed have considered quitting their jobs over the burden insurance sometimes places on their daily work. That’s according to a survey of providers we commissioned and published last month. The findings characterized the frustration providers have with payers over claim denials. It’s a concerning statistic given the prolonged shortage of providers that continues to challenge the healthcare community: “Given the persistent and prolonged shortage of healthcare talent, this could be an opportunity for savvy employers to stand out among rivals,” said Patrick Youngblood, DBA, SPHR. “Those who are willing and able to find creative solutions to ease the strain providers face in complying with payer demands could be a boost to provider recruiting and retention.” While we offered several suggestions […]

Healthcare providers express frustration with payers over denied treatments [survey]

Providers chafe when insurance companies second guess their medical decisions; 74% indicate it happens frequently; 45% say it takes too much time; 44% have considered quitting over the demands these engagements add to their jobs by Intelliworx When healthcare insurers deny treatments it can derail a healthcare provider’s day. Suddenly, they are thrust into a forum where they have to justify their medical decisions. Many providers say this happens too frequently and takes up too much time. That’s according to a new survey of 211 U.S.-based healthcare providers published by Intelliworx. Respondents were solicited through an independent survey panel between January 30, 2025, and February 4, 2025. The survey may well serve as a call to action for healthcare employers as well. While many providers say their employers are supportive, there is a substantial percentage who say employers could do more to help them manage this challenge. What’s more, the […]

7 observations showing how rural healthcare is overcoming the provider shortage

Rural healthcare facilities are increasingly turning to nurse practitioners (NPs), international medical graduates (IMGs) and “non-residency” physicians to fill the gaps by Intelliworx They say constraint breeds creativity. When faced with limited resources, leaders find ways to apply those resources more effectively. Constraints tend to produce creative thinking that one might not have considered otherwise. One place we’ve found this to be true is rural healthcare. A persistent shortage of healthcare providers has forced the community, especially in rural areas, to find creative ways to solve this problem. That’s an observation we found woven throughout the 2024 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives report. The report, which is the most current edition available, is produced by AMN Healthcare’s Physician Solutions division – formerly known as Merritt Hawkins. It’s compiled from a range of sources including other studies, surveys and most importantly, a “representative sample of the 2,138” provider […]

Regional provider compensation: There’s a wide delta between the highest and lowest

In one example, primary care physicians can earn up to $252,379 more annually by working in the highest-paying state in the PCP category (Mississippi) than in the lowest-paying state (Alaska) by Intelliworx The delta between the highest and lowest compensation among providers is staggering. You might think a provider stands to make more income working for a big city hospital than they do in a rural community, but that’s not always the case. Consider the following data – derived from the 2024 MGMA provider compensation data: Primary care physicians (PCP) can earn up to $252,379 more annually by working in the highest-paying state in the PCP category (Mississippi) than in the lowest-paying state (Alaska); Surgical specialists can earn up to $504,277 more annually by working in the highest-paying state in the surgical category (South Carolina) than in the lowest-paying state (Wyoming); Non-surgical specialists can earn up to $508,468 more annually […]

Provider compensation: AAPs see the biggest jump in pay

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants netted a 6.47% increase in total compensation, however, physicians still earn far more in comparison by Intelliworx Compensation is always a top priority in recruiting and retention – and salaries continue to grow in healthcare. MGMA illustrates this in its most recent compensation report: “Median total compensation for physicians in primary care, surgical specialties and nonsurgical specialties saw modest increases in 2023, as well as total compensation for APPs.” APPs, or advanced practice providers, which includes nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) saw the biggest jump according to the association: “For APPs, total median compensation outpaced the gains seen for physicians, with a 6.47% increase in 2023, contributing to a 16.23% gain since pre-pandemic 2019 levels.” Among just physicians, and excluding APPs, those fulfilling primary care roles saw a larger bump in pay: “The largest gains in total median compensation were for primary care […]

Healthcare physician productivity has skyrocketed

Data suggests technology investment has enabled providers to be more productive; physician-owned practices edge out hospital-owned practices by measure of wRVUs by Intelliworx Physicians have become increasingly more productive over the last decade or so. That’s according to the 2024 Provider Compensation Data Report by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). That finding was included in a report published last year, which reflects data from more than 211,000 physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs). APPs include nurse practitioners and physician assistants. It covers data through the year ending 2023 and is the most recent the association has currently available publicly. MGMA came to that conclusion by analyzing what the medical community refers to as “Work Relative Value Units” (wRVU). The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) says wRVUs reflect a “physician’s work, including mental effort, decision making, technical skills, physical effort, stress related to patient risk, and amount of time […]

With all eyes on recruiting, healthcare also has a retention problem

Recruiting is just one part of the talent shortage puzzle; the best way to begin refilling a leaky bucket is to seal the leak by Intelliworx Recruiting is top of mind for many healthcare employers, and more and more are investing time in the function. For example, “MGMA polling from late 2023,” found “nearly eight in 10 (78%) of medical group leaders spent more time on recruitment and interviewing last year than the previous year.” The findings were included in a healthcare staff compensation report from the association which includes a mix of polls MGMA has fielded over the last few years. Never miss a post! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter by email. Yet recruiting is only one part of the problem. Another key part is retention and retention rates are astonishingly high in some areas. As a case in point, MGMA says clinical staff turnover is at a rate […]

Many healthcare employers see the struggle to recruit nurses grow

Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system, yet a dearth of talent means this persistent problem continues to weigh on employers by Intelliworx As it is with providers, healthcare employees everywhere are struggling to attract nurses. That’s according to a new report by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). Citing an MGMA Stat poll from May 2024, the report says, “22% of medical group leaders say their nurse recruitment and hiring efforts improved in the past year, while the majority (78%) say they have seen little change (43%) or experienced worsened conditions (35%).” The top factor contributing to this healthcare recruiting challenge is a dearth of talent. There simply aren’t enough nurses and it’s hitting rural locations even harder. Why? “While some practice leaders noted a smaller pool of candidates in their rural markets, most respondents pointed to tough competition for qualified candidates from hospitals and larger organizations with […]

How healthcare staff compensation has changed over the last five years

“Sizable compensation increases for these roles are in line with anecdotal reports about the continuously competitive labor market,” according to a new report by MGMA by Intelliworx The shortage of providers is perhaps the biggest challenge facing rural healthcare facilities. Accordingly, there’s a lot of focus on incentives to attract more providers, particularly compensation. Providers are an important part of the puzzle. However, it’s important to remember they usually have a team to support them. These team members handle a wide range of supporting tasks from negotiating with payers – to prepping patients to be seen by a provider. They are crucial to keeping things running smoothly. To that end, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) is out with a new report that benchmarks the growth in management and staff compensation. While the report benchmarks the changes over several different time periods, we believe the 5-year time frame is the […]

What physicians want from healthcare employers evolves over a career [survey]

Saddled with debt, newly minted doctors say compensation is the top factor they look for in a first employer; however, work-life balance, family and geography are increasingly influential as tenure lengthens by Intelliworx Compensation is back in style – at least for newly minted physicians looking for their first gig post-residency. That’s according to a joint report by Jackson Physician Search and the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). The report, based on a survey of physicians and hospital administrators, shows that the newest generation of physicians, Generation Z (1997-2012), also commonly referred to as Zoomers, care more about their compensation than Millennials (1981-1996). More than three-quarters (76%) of new physician surveys said the top factor they look for in their first job after completing residency was compensation. This was followed by location (64%) and work-life balance in a distant third with just 38%. This is at odds with conventional wisdom […]

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