REPORT
The state of the independent practice in 2026
Independent practices are under increasing strain as financial and administrative demands continue to rise. In the past year alone, the share of providers who say the independent model feels “hardly threatened” dropped from 19% to 10%, while those calling it “terrible” quintupled.
Based on a national survey of 106 independent providers, Tebra’s report examines where that pressure shows up in 2026 and what helps relieve it. It explores how rising costs, revenue leakage, and admin overload affect daily operations — and what changes when EHR, billing, and patient experience tools work together.
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Key findings from the 2026 report
This year’s survey data highlights a growing gap between confidence and operational reality, including:
- Financial pressure is rising, led by insurance reimbursements (75%), staff wages (55%), and technology costs (42%)
- Revenue leakage remains widespread, with 53% of practices reporting clean-claims rates below 90%
- Automation often under-delivers, as 63% of practices save five hours or fewer per week
- Operational stability improves when clinical, billing, and patient workflows are connected
