NPAC 2026 Takeaways

After the National Physician Advisor Conference (NPAC), we spoke with Cheryl Ericson, Senior Director of Clinical Policy and Education, to identify what stood out and where healthcare organizations still have work to do. She made it clear that hospitals continue to face challenges, but people now expect faster and better responses.

Validation: The Industry Is Catching Up—We’re Already There

A main takeaway from NPAC was that Brundage Group is moving in the same direction as the industry. Cheryl pointed out that federal regulations and payer expectations are becoming increasingly complex, yet many organizations still only react rather than embed compliance into their daily work.

At Brundage Group, we use our regulatory expertise and real-world workflows to stay ahead. Instead of just explaining rules, we embed them in the daily decisions clinicians and Physician Advisor teams make.

From Compliance to Competitive Advantage

One big theme from NPAC is that hospitals need to do more than react to compliance issues. They need to strengthen their Physician Advisor programs not only to minimize the risk of denials but also to improve teamwork and financial health.

This is where Brundage Group’s model stands apart:

• At Brundage Group, we combine strict compliance with payer-level sensitivity, enabling us to adapt quickly to new payer behaviors and regulatory changes.
• Brundage Group uses insights from diverse clients to spot trends early, giving hospitals a broader view than they could achieve on their own.
• At Brundage Group, we put these insights into workflows so they drive real action, not just reports.

In short, Brundage Group helps turn Physician Advisor programs into high-performing, best-practice teams. Our clients have seen measurable results, including fewer claim denials, faster case reviews, higher throughput, and a stronger bottom line—showing the value of a workflow-driven approach.

The Shift in the Physician Advisor Model

Another important point is that the usual setup for Physician Advisor programs needs to change.

On-site Physician Advisors often spend too much time on routine review tasks. Cheryl stressed that it’s time to rethink this model and let internal Physician Advisors focus on the work for which they are best trained.

A Modern Approach Makes It Possible To:

• Leverage Brundage Group’s external Physician Advisors to handle high-volume, transactional reviews, ensuring consistency and scalability.
• Work more closely with IT and clinical teams to remove barriers and improve workflows.
• Clarify the division of Physician Advisor roles:
  • Transactional tasks such as case reviews, initial chart assessments, and routine documentation checks are best handled by external Physician Advisors, freeing up internal teams for more strategic activities.
  • Internal Physician Advisors can make an impact by working with the C-suite, leading committees, teaching providers, interacting with revenue cycle teams, developing policies, improving documentation, and supporting complex case consultations.
  • This clear delineation helps executives allocate resources efficiently and position their teams as organizational leaders.

In conclusion, Cheryl’s insights showed that the future of utilization management and Physician Advisor programs is already happening. The organizations that adapt the fastest will see the biggest benefits.