Affordable Healthcare Access Tops Physician Concerns as Systemic Strains Persist
Event summary
- Access to affordable healthcare became the top policy concern for physicians, rising 14 points over three years to 52% in 2026.
- 62% of physicians reported increased efficiency from EHRs, but 80% cited interoperability challenges as a significant stressor.
- Rural physicians face higher burnout (67%) and greater concerns about affordable care access (63%) compared to urban counterparts.
- Only 33% of physicians are confident value-based care will improve practice sustainability in five years.
The big picture
athenahealth’s survey highlights a growing disconnect between technological optimism within practices and systemic pessimism about the U.S. healthcare system. While AI and EHR advancements are improving efficiency, structural barriers like affordability, care fragmentation, and interoperability challenges continue to strain physicians. The data underscores the urgent need for policy reforms and technological solutions to address these systemic inefficiencies, particularly in rural areas where physician shortages are most acute.
What we're watching
- Technology Gaps
- How the widening AI adoption divide between small and large practices will impact operational efficiency and sustainability.
- Regulatory Pressures
- Whether persistent reimbursement pressures from Medicare and Medicaid will accelerate practice consolidation.
- Value-Based Care
- The pace at which physician hesitancy around value-based care adoption will shift with better education and operational support.
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