Why Independent Practices Are Losing Revenue to Denials in 2026
Denial rates are climbing across U.S. physician practices in 2026. Here's what the data shows, why independent practices are hit hardest, and how AI-assisted prevention is changing the equation.
If your practice's denial rate is above 10%, you're not an outlier — you're the norm. Industry data now puts more than 4 in 10 providers in that category, and the trend line is moving in the wrong direction for independent and small-group practices in particular.
Key points
That's the uncomfortable starting point for any conversation about revenue cycle management in 2026. Denials aren't an occasional billing hiccup anymore. They're a structural, growing drag on practice revenue — and the data explains why.
More details
Benchmarks vary by source and specialty, but they converge on the same story:
See how PhysiAssist prevents denials before they cost you
Root-cause denial analysis, automated appeal drafting, and payer-pattern tracking — built for practices that can't afford a full-time denial management team. Request a demo to see it on your own claims data.
