What are the top provider compensation trends affecting 2026?

The most significant provider compensation trends for 2026 include finalized wRVU changes, ongoing workforce shortages, growing limitations of productivity-only models, increased emphasis on value-based care, and the need for modernized compensation structures.

Why are wRVU changes influencing provider compensation strategies in 2026?

wRVU changes alter productivity measurements without reflecting changes in clinical effort, which can distort compensation outcomes and require organizations to reassess how productivity is measured and rewarded.

How are workforce shortages affecting provider compensation planning?

Provider shortages are increasing pressure on organizations to maintain competitive compensation, improve retention, and incorporate flexibility and non-productivity incentives into compensation strategies.

Why are traditional productivity-based compensation models being re-evaluated?

Productivity-only models may fail to capture access, quality, and organizational priorities, leading organizations to explore more balanced approaches that better align compensation with overall performance.

What role does collaboration play in modernizing provider compensation models?

Collaboration between leadership and providers improves transparency, builds trust, and helps ensure compensation changes are understood and aligned with organizational goals.

How should healthcare organizations prepare for provider compensation changes in 2026?

Organizations should analyze compensation data, assess the impact of wRVU changes, engage providers early, and proactively modernize compensation models to support sustainability and workforce stability.

Top 5 Trends Affecting Provider Compensation in 2026: A Call to Anticipate, Modernize, Collaborate

February 10, 2026February 10, 2026

PYA Insights

Executive Contacts

Angie Caldwell

Ericka Dickinson

PYA and the American Association of Provider Compensation Professionals (AAPCP) collaborated on a comprehensive report explaining the Top 5 trends facing health systems, hospitals, and physician organizations as they navigate provider compensation and workforce strategy in 2026.

The publication, Looking Forward: Top 5 Trends Affecting Provider Compensation in 2026, was released in early February. It examines the five most critical compensation and workforce issues shaping the industry today:

Provider Shortage and Sustainability
Policy Shifts Affecting Compensation
The Breakdown of Traditional Call Pay Models
Rapid Integration of Advanced Practice Providers
Value-Based Compensation vs Traditional Compensation Models

Download the Top 5 Trends report

The insightful report states,

“The trends shaping today’s healthcare landscape point to a clear reality: Legacy approaches to provider compensation, workforce planning, and governance are no longer sufficient. Provider shortages, policy volatility, call pay fragmentation, APP integration challenges, and the uneven adoption of value-based incentives each represent significant risks on their own. Together, they form a structural inflection point that demands strategic, data-driven action. Organizations that succeed will be those that modernize compensation frameworks, lean into cross-disciplinary collaboration, and proactively align their models with operational, regulatory, and financial foresight.”

The valuable publication provides thoughtful insights and practical recommendations for healthcare leaders. It is available to AAPCP members and on the PYA website.

The AAPCP is the nation’s largest nonprofit educational organization devoted to provider compensation and workforce strategy.

For more than 40 years, PYA has served healthcare organizations with provider compensation valuation and design expertise. Our consultants partner with clients to develop compliant compensation plans that meet organizational goals. Learn more about PYA’s provider compensation valuation and design services.