Medical groups plan 2026 budget boost for workforce, MGMA poll finds

As medical practices look ahead to 2026, new data from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) shows staffing will command the largest share of fresh budget dollars next year, according to a new MGMA Stat poll.

In the poll of 213 medical-group leaders, 37% said workforce investments — such as adding staff, improving retention, and adjusting compensation — will top their budget priorities. Health information technology followed at 30%, while revenue cycle and patient access each accounted for 12%. Nine percent selected “other,” MGMA reported.

The findings underscore a familiar reality for physician practices: Despite advances in automation and AI, staffing remains both the largest cost center and the most influential lever for operational stability. MGMA noted that many administrators are planning not only to expand head count but also to increase pay, offer market adjustments, and bolster bonuses to better compete for clinical and administrative talent.

The emphasis on health-IT investments reflects a parallel trend. After a year marked by cyberattacks and the lingering effects of the 2024 Change Healthcare outage, many groups are prioritizing digital infrastructure, automation tools and patient-facing technologies.

Revenue-cycle and patient-access investments, though smaller parts of the budget, reflect pressure points tied to rising patient responsibility, insurance denials and scheduling bottlenecks that affect cash flow and patient experience.

For practice administrators, the poll may serve as a roadmap for 2026 planning. Recent coverage from Physicians Practice has emphasized the need to reassess compensation strategies and model reimbursement shifts, emphasized by the recently released 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule highlighting the importance of proactive budgeting and workflow updates .

Those recommendations align with MGMA’s broader takeaway that leaders are directing new dollars toward areas that most directly shape margin, access and long-term resiliency.

The MGMA Stat poll was conducted Oct. 28.